October 15, 2011. (Romereports.com) The Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome is currently hosting an exhibition of 40 Russian icons that have left their country for the first time. They are pieces of art that were hidden after the October Revolution of 1917 in order to protect them from anti-religious destruction.


Sonia Vazzano
Editor “Russian Icons” (Italy)
“It's the first time that a large number of Russian icons has come to Italy. In addition, here are a dozen examples that have never before been moved and appear for the first time published in our catalog.”

Icons are usually painted on wood and meant to represent saints or sacred elements. The Orthodox tradition considers them as if they were the Gospel, inspirations of God through the hand of the artist.

Their deep symbolism is reflected from the meaning of “icon” as a representation or vision from another world. The wood evokes the Holy Cross; through it's gold background, divine light; and the cloth attached to wood evokes the cloth that covered the body of Jesus.

Sonia Vazzano
Editor “Russian Icons” (Italy)
“Without a doubt, they have a great importance and a fundamental recognition in Russia, because the icons represent for Russia what the pyramids represent for Egypt, or the temples to the Greeks.”

The exhibition shows icons ranging from the fifteenth century until the early twentieth century. It's a rare opportunity to see the religious soul of Russia through its ancient icons.


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