They painted it with vinegar and eggs .. Artists display their Byzantine icons in the Holy Cross in Damascus

As the mother gathers her children and tells them stories before bed, the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus gathered her flock, to tell them stories of the Gospel and the miracles of the saints and the righteous.

“The Icon Our Pictorial Gospel” is an exhibition of ancient church utensils, archaeological manuscripts, and icons of contemporary painters that the church walls embraced in a “message of peace and love from the Syrian people”, as described by His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and the rest of the East for the Greek Orthodox, considering that the opening of the exhibition confirms “that we are in Syria Steadfast and steadfast despite the difficult days and the harsh conditions that the country is going through. ”

Artist Ayman Naomi, an icon writer, confirmed in his interview with “Sputnik” that his participation in the exhibition with 9 paintings was based on his responsibility and his desire to publish Byzantine art that has a spiritual dimension, noting that all his paintings are made of natural materials such as earth colors, vinegar and eggs, which distinguishes The ancient Byzantine method of painting.

The use of natural raw materials distinguished all the displayed icons, as the artist Ralda Turk confirmed that she participated with 22 icons, of different sizes, and all of them are made of natural materials such as eggs and vinegar.

“The Byzantine icon is a window to the kingdom” This is how the artist Dana Dahdal describes her passion for drawing Byzantine icons, and in her speech to “Sputnik”, she indicated that she participated with 5 icons to express her passion and belief in the importance of spreading ancient Byzantine art.

The exhibition, which included paintings from all Syrian governorates and with different age groups, was not limited to local participation, as the artist Lea Sunaij participated with an icon of Russian Byzantine art as well.

The organizer of the exhibition, Rania Haddad, confirmed that it included 15 historical manuscripts, with a summary of each manuscript to facilitate understanding by visitors, indicating that the exhibition aims mainly to highlight the importance of the icon that embodies the stages of the Gospel and the lives of the saints.

The exhibition also provided its visitors with an opportunity to view the age and the Prophet’s covenant, one of which is located in the Patriarchal Monastery of George Al Hamira, and the other is in the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai.

Just as the Bible spread the message of love, peace and tolerance among people, these artists seek to convey the message that Syrians remain, believe in hope, and hold on to their country because they are the children of life and hope.