MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited the exhibition of Belarusian icons of the 17th-21st centuries in the museum of the Vatican.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin accompanied the Belarusian head of state at the museum. Alexander Lukashenko expressed confidence that it is just the first step in the development of museum cooperation between Belarus and the Vatican. He also hoped that many infesting large-scale projects will be implemented in the future.
Alexander Lukashenko presented a modern Belarusian icon to the museum and a set of masks with religious symbols to Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The exhibition “Icon painting in Belarus in the 17th-21st centuries” opened in the museum of the Vatican before the visit of the Belarusian President. The exhibition of Belarusian icons marks an important event in the Roman Catholic world - the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy – which was announced by Pope Francis. The exhibition features 31 icons of Belarusian masters and two embossed icon settings. Belarusian icons go on show in the museum of the Vatican for the first time, in close vicinity to the famous Sistine Chapel. The exhibition will familiarize Italian specialists and numerous tourists from around the world with unique works of the Belarusian sacral culture.
