Suzanne
21-02-06, 08:22 AM
There is no such other collection on the Balkans, says Prof Bojidar Dimitrov
Over a hundred unique pieces of church art made of silver and gold will be exhibited in the National Museum of History. They date back to 17th and 18th centuries and belonged to different monasteries on the territory of today Republic of Macedonia, which was once a part of the Bulgarian ethnic territory. Any museum in the world or a patriarchal cathedral would be proud to posses, for instance, the ciborium from St Nahum monastery, near Ohrid, on which Sts Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples are portrayed. Prof. Bojidar Dimitrov, the National Museum of History Director believes that none of the Balkan countries has such a collection. Prof. Teofana Matakieva, the research leader of the exhibition, thinks that most of these masterpieces of church utensils were made by the best ateliers of the time, most of them from Thessalonica. "The exhibition is dedicated to Sts Cyril and Methodius because as Pope John Paul II proclaimed them co-patrons of Europe along with Saint Benedict, they are also the symbols of the continent's spiritual unity. We also decided to close the exhibition on a particular day - November 1, the Day of the Apostles of the Bulgarian National Enlightenment as Cyril and Methodius are the first in their ranks," says Prof Matakieva.
http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2006/02/21/pics/471318d.jpg
The ciborium from St. Nahum monastery
Photo Minko Minev
Konstantin Sabchev
standartnews (http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2006/02/21/english/features/index.htm)
Over a hundred unique pieces of church art made of silver and gold will be exhibited in the National Museum of History. They date back to 17th and 18th centuries and belonged to different monasteries on the territory of today Republic of Macedonia, which was once a part of the Bulgarian ethnic territory. Any museum in the world or a patriarchal cathedral would be proud to posses, for instance, the ciborium from St Nahum monastery, near Ohrid, on which Sts Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples are portrayed. Prof. Bojidar Dimitrov, the National Museum of History Director believes that none of the Balkan countries has such a collection. Prof. Teofana Matakieva, the research leader of the exhibition, thinks that most of these masterpieces of church utensils were made by the best ateliers of the time, most of them from Thessalonica. "The exhibition is dedicated to Sts Cyril and Methodius because as Pope John Paul II proclaimed them co-patrons of Europe along with Saint Benedict, they are also the symbols of the continent's spiritual unity. We also decided to close the exhibition on a particular day - November 1, the Day of the Apostles of the Bulgarian National Enlightenment as Cyril and Methodius are the first in their ranks," says Prof Matakieva.
http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2006/02/21/pics/471318d.jpg
The ciborium from St. Nahum monastery
Photo Minko Minev
Konstantin Sabchev
standartnews (http://www.standartnews.com/archive/2006/02/21/english/features/index.htm)