Mt. Athos, April 1, 2025
Photo: gohalkidiki.com
The holy monasteries of Mt. Athos have joined the chorus of those condemning the blasphemous display at the Greek National Gallery in Athens.
An exhibition entitled The Allure of the Bizarre, which features several blasphemous works opened on January 22 and is set to run through September 30. It has caused strong reactions from the Orthodox clergy and faithful, including a petition calling for its removal, which states that the exhibition depicts the Lord, the Theotokos, and various saints “in an offensive, repulsive, degrading, blasphemous, and insulting manner.”
Orthodox protests against blasphemous display in Greek National GalleryThe National Gallery in Athens, Greece, is currently hosting an exhibition entitled The Allure of the Bizarre, which features several blasphemous works.The offending works of “art” were taken from the walls and thrown to the ground by MP Nikos Papadoulos on March 10. The pieces are “a direct attack on our faith, our cultural identity, the roots of our nation,” the politician said.
Greek MP destroys blasphemous art display in AthensA Greek Member of Parliament was detained on Monday morning after he destroyed a blasphemous art display at the National Gallery in Athens.And now, the Holy Mountain, represented by the Sacred Community (which consists of one representative of each of the 20 ruling monasteries) and all the abbots of the ruling monasteries, has written to Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, condemning the blasphemous display.
The letter expresses deep concern and regret over the exhibition and questions how such “blasphemous and offensive” content could be displayed in a state institution in a country where Orthodox Christianity is so foundational. The Athonite representatives argue that while artistic freedom is important, it should be balanced with respect for religious beliefs and values. The letter concludes by urging the Minister to reconsider how exhibits are selected to protect religious sentiment and preserve the dignity of sacred symbols.
The letter, dated March 26, was published yesterday by Vima Orthodoxias:
Through this our officially sealed letter, we express our deepest regret regarding the exhibition presented at the National Gallery of Greece under the title The Allure of the Bizarre. This exhibition, which is taking place in a public institution of the Greek state, includes works that ridicule Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints of our faith.
Therefore, we wonder how in our sacred homeland, where Orthodoxy constitutes the spiritual foundation of our nation, such blasphemous and offensive works can be displayed, especially under the auspices of the state.
The Greek state should preserve respect for the sacred and holy traditions of the Greek nation and not proceed to encourage artistic deconstructions that offend the religious sentiment of the people by contempt for our religious values and traditions.
If it is the right of art to express itself freely, there is a corresponding duty for all to maintain the basic rule of respect for the religious beliefs and values of a people. “Art should be an occasion for discussion and reflection, not division.” When art results in offending the beliefs of the largest portion of a people, it forsakes its true purpose and becomes a weapon of division and isolation.
Madam Minister, conveying the sorrow of the fathers practicing asceticism on Mt. Athos for what has occurred, we hope that similar events will not be repeated and that you will carefully re-examine the method of selecting exhibits, in order to protect the religious sentiment of citizens and preserve the respect and dignity of our sacred symbols.
The Allure of the Bizarre exhibition was only the first of two blasphemous works at the National Gallery to cause an outrage in March. Dimitrios Natsios, president of the Niki political party, also filed a lawsuit against the Gallery for an installation featuring a film with pornographic scenes over the chanting of the “O Heavenly King” prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Another scandal of blasphemy at Greece’s National GalleryAnother scandal has erupted surrounding “artwork” on display at Greece’s National Gallery in Athens, this time blaspheming one of the Church’s most well-known prayers.Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
