On August 3, an exhibition of Ukrainian sacred art dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky opened at the Museum of the History of Religion.
The exposition features unique artifacts from the museum’s collection, covering the period from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century. The core of the exhibition consists of icons painted on wood using tempera and oil paints, showcasing the richness of Ukrainian icon painting traditions. Among the exhibits is the 16th-century icon ‘Resurrection,’ works by Ivan Rutkovych, as well as early 20th-century icons that witnessed the struggle for the revival of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in 1989. The exhibition is complemented by elements of sacred carving – figures of saints, cartouches, angels, and wooden royal gates.
During the opening, the head of the museum branch, Halyna Hrynyk, emphasized Andrey Sheptytsky’s belief that culture and art are powerful forces uniting the Ukrainian people. Visitors particularly note the royal gates, which, according to Halyna Hrynyk, might have been known to the Metropolitan himself.
The head of the culture department, Andriy Protsyk, welcomed the presentation guests, noting: “The world perishes from a lack of love”. These words of Andrey Sheptytsky, spoken decades ago, remain relevant today. The Metropolitan is a grand figure in Ukrainian history not only as a spiritual leader but as a cultural, educational, scientific, and entrepreneurial figure who aspired to make the world a better place. This exhibition is another step towards understanding and preserving our national heritage, particularly the Ukrainian icon, which still requires deep research and comprehension.
The artistic event was embellished by musical performances by Olena Khrystyn, a student of the Lviv National Music Academy, and Victoria Lutsyk, a student of Sosnivka School of Arts. The exhibition will run until the end of September.