The Passions of Christ: A Journey through Byzantine art.

 

This site is mirrored from http://www.kypros.org/Byzantine/ [Kypros.org] (a)

The painting of icons has a special place in Byzantine art just as icons have a special function in the Greek Orthodox religion. The figures of Christ are painted directly on wood panels or on cloth. The cloth used is usually linen or cotton and it is glued on to wooden panels. Very occasionally parchment glued on to wooden panels is used instead of cloth. Unlike the decorations on the walls or vaults of a church which are seen from a distance, icon painting creates figures which are in close proximity to the beholder. The faithful pray before the icons and kiss them. Thus the icon is not an ordinary painting but rather a cult object bringing the faithful close to the person or persons depicted on it. Through the icon the world of senses communicates with the supernatural, the visible with the invisible. The technique therefore required for the painting of icons is different of that of a wall painting.

This is a journey through Byzantine icons, that were painted and exhibited in Cyprus, from the early Byzantine period (4th-7th centuries) until the period of the first Turkish occupation (1570-1878). We have selected to display icons from the island of Cyprus, as a tribute to the hundreds of prisoners of war that may still be kept alive and prisoned by Turkish occupation troops. We wish that next year's Easter will find them at their homes, in good health and among their beloved.

You can click on the miniature images to see a full-size representation of each icon (around 100 Kbytes each)

	The Betrayal Church of Panagia Katholiki, Pelendri 16th century
	Way to the cross Church of the Holy Cross, Pelendri 1200 AD
	Crucifixion Church of Panagia Chrysaliniotissa, Nicosia 14th century
	Crucifixion Church of Agios Loukas, Nicosia Early 13th century
	Crucifixion (reverse side of a double-sided icon) Church of Agios Loukas, Nicosia 14th century
	Crucifixion (detail of the epistyl of an iconostasi) Church of Panagia Theoskepasti, Kalopanagiotis 2nd half of 14th century
	Crucifixion (reverse side of a double-sided icon) Church of Agia Paraskevi, Ieroskiptos 15th century
	Crucifixion Church of Panagia Phaneromeni, Nicosia early Byzantine period
	Descent from the cross Church of Agia Marina, Kalopanagiotis 14th century
	Descent to Hell Church of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, Kalopanagiotis late 13th century
	Man of Sorrows Church of Panagia, Palaekhori 1st half of 16th century
	Man of Sorrows Church of Agios Loukas, Nicosia 1st half of 16th century
	Resurrection Monastery of Saint Neophytos 1544 AD
	Resurrection Church of Panagia Amasgou early 13th century
	Ascension Monastery of Saint Neophytos 1544 AD