An exhibition of rare icons is planned as part of the St Demetrios Moonee Ponds Parish Festival ‘Una Razza Una Faccia’ which will take place on October 27.
The icons, all dating from the 18th-19th century, form part of the private collection of the lawyer and writer Konstantinos Kalymnios and come mainly from Asia Minor and the Greek-speaking regions of the former Russian Empire, especially from the Black Sea region now comprising parts of modern Russia and Ukraine.
These icons of diverse styles and iconographic traditions, some of which were placed in iconostasis of holy churches, have their own harrowing stories to tell; they were hidden during the years of the Soviet rule so that they would not be destroyed or vandalised and were guarded with reverence and with many risks by the faithful.
The exhibition will be open to the public during the festival and admission is free. The exhibition will be open Friday evening, Saturday 11-2pm, Sunday 11-5 pm. Address: 1 Gladstone Street, Moonee Ponds.
