A selection of 24 priceless Byzantine icons from monasteries in Thessaloniki and Patmos travelled to the U.S. for the first time to be exhibited at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. over the next three months.
The temporary exhibition, titled Revealing the Hidden: Byzantine icons from Thessaloniki and Patmos, opened to the public on Saturday, November 7, and can be visited until January 28, 2027.
Created between 1200 and 1600, the 24 rare icons showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of the workshops in Thessaloniki, Constantinople, and Patmos, while at the same time they highlight how icons as venerated objects depicting biblical scenes and persons take on deep meaning within the practices and beliefs of the Greek Orthodox Church.
“They are not simply pieces of religious art used for decoration but objects with significant religious purposes,” according to the Museum of the Bible, which promises visitors a rare glimpse into the Orthodox world.
Additionally, a series of educational panels featuring leading scholars and clergy will illuminate the Orthodox tradition’s contributions to sacred art and its historical and theological context.
Important monasteries associated with books of the Bible
The exhibits originate from Vlatadon Monastery in Thessaloniki and the Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos island, which are both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
With the blessings of His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, these two important Greek Orthodox monasteries have generously allowed the 24 Byzantine icons to travel to the U.S. for the very first time.
Revealing the Hidden: Byzantine icons from Thessaloniki and Patmos, is structured around four questions; what is an icon, what do icons portray, who made these icons, and where do these icons come from.
That last question introduces visitors to the two monasteries, which continue to be prominent centers of Orthodox Christianity thanks to their association with books of the Bible – Paul preached in Thessalonica, and John received his visions on Patmos.
