Greek restorer tends to Istanbul church artefacts that ‘live through centuries’

·

Greek restorer Venizelos Gavrilakis uses microscopes, cotton swabs and a delicate touch to bring artefacts back to life in churches in Istanbul, where concerns have grown about the preservation of its Byzantine history.

Since moving from Thessaloniki eight years ago, Gavrilakis, 44, and his colleagues have preserved icons, frescos and paintings in 25 Greek Orthodox churches in the city, he said.

Their latest job restoring artefacts including a 16th century depiction of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ took longer than planned due to coronavirus-related restrictions.

Venizelos Gavrilakis, a senior restorer and conservator from Thessaloniki, Greece, and his assistant Asli Erel work to clean and restore an early 17th century royal door at a Greek Orthodox church where Gavrilakis set up his laboratory in Istanbul, Turkey December 22, 2020. [Murad Sezer/Reuters]

Throughout the city’s Christian Byzantine and then Muslim Ottoman history, before Turkey’s modern republic, many such religious and cultural works were damaged or lost in war or abandonment, or altered by less-skilled painters.

Gavrilakis, who gives a lifetime guarantee for his work, said the restoration is meant to send a message of unity and longevity at a time when the pandemic has temporarily kept many worshippers apart.

“The pandemic will pass, in order to fight it we all should remain spiritually united,” Gavrilakis said. “Our work on these precious and timeless artefacts will always be there for the people to see it and get inspiration and strength from it.”

Venizelos Gavrilakis, a senior restorer and conservator from Thessaloniki, Greece, poses with the 16th century Byzantine Christian icon after completing its restoration at a Greek Orthodox church where he set up his laboratory in Istanbul, Turkey January 26, 2021. [Murad Sezer/Reuters]

Turkey’s decision last year to convert the famed Hagia Sophia as well as the Chora church, another local Byzantine landmark, into mosques sparked criticism from some church leaders and Western countries. Some experts also worried the conversion could harm frescos and other artefacts in the 6th century Hagia Sophia.

Gavrilakis trained in Italy and Greece, where he had worked on more than 40 churches in the north. In Istanbul the oldest icon he and his team, called Ieri Parakatathiki Labs, have restored is a Fayum portrait from the 2nd or 3rd century B.C.

The artefacts, he said in an interview, “remind people of the unlimited possibilities of the human mind that can create such wonderful things that live though the centuries.”

Sourced By: Reuters

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Over $45,000 raised to make Pontian House accessible for all

A total of $45,476 has been raised by Pontoxeniteas NSW at its Winter Wonderland Gala 2025 to install a platform lift at the Pontian House.

Star Pharmacy Group CEO Peter Piliouras takes on Chemist Warehouse in expansion plan

Peter Piliouras, CEO of Star Pharmacy Group, is aiming to double the group’s chain, taking on industry giant Chemist Warehouse.

Landlord Margarita Constanti Salamakis taken to court as bakery owner fights eviction

Margarita Constanti Salamakis is facing legal action in NSW Supreme Court after issuing an eviction notice to Marrickville bakery Miss Sina.

Mario Alexandridis at centre of Strike Force Candice raids across Sydney

Low-profile entrepreneur Marios Alexandridis has been charged in a major money laundering and unexplained wealth investigation.

SA seafood heir Sarantis Parissos jailed over police hit-and-run

Former professional footballer and seafood heir Sarantis Parissos has been sentenced to over six years in jail after a series of offences.

You May Also Like

Professor George Paxinos officially launches his latest book ‘A River Divided’

Professor George Paxinos officially launched his environmental crime novel, A River Divided, at Ashfield Town Hall on Tuesday night.

Kerameus announces intention of extending postal voting to national elections in Greece

Minister Niki Kerameus has announced the Government's intention of introducing postal voting for Greeks living abroad. 

Christopher Joannidis sentenced to over 5 years for fatal crash

A driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison after ignoring a warning and causing a crash that killed five people.