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    “EX VOTOS OF EUROPE. Votive traditions of Christian West and East” - is the name of a new international exhibition prepared by the Museum of Borderland in Lubaczσw in cooperation with the Hellenic Folklore Research Centre, the Academy of Athens, Greece. The solemn opening of the exhibition will be held on at 11:00 am in Galeria Oficyna in the Park-Castle Complex of the Museum of Borderland in Lubaczσw.

 

    The purpose of the exhibition is to present a rich tradition of offering ex votos, which is deeply rooted in the culture of Christian Europe, both in its Western and Eastern tradition. The similarities and differences which appear in votive art of both cultural circles were exemplified by exhibits from the territory of Poland and Greece. For the first time, to such an extent, the cultures, which so far seemed so distant, will meet in a fascinating way. Despite some obvious differences both traditions have in common the eternal mystery of mystic relationship between a man and God. The thanksgiving ex voto is in this context a particular act of faith manifested in a material form.

    The total number of displayed exhibits is 500 various objects created from 17th to 21st century. The review and confrontation of the Western and Eastern votive art of the united Europe will certainly be an unusual occasion to contemplate the way made by the tradition of offering ex votos during a few recent centuries. Definitely, the exhibition will also encourage the viewers to reflect on the condition of Christian votive tradition in modern times.

    The exhibition is organized under the auspices of His Excellence Gabriel Coptsidis, the Ambassador of the Republic of Greece in Poland. It was possible to organize the exhibition thanks to the bailout from funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage within the frames of “Support for museum activities” programme in 2010.

    The exhibition was prepared of the following collections: the Hellenic Folklore Research Centre, the Academy of Athens and Nikos Papageorgiou’s collection from Greece and sanctuaries, monasteries, perishes and museums in Poland: the Pauline Fathers’’ Monastery on Jasna Gσra in Częstochowa (Collection of Votive Art), Our Lady’s Sanctuary in Krasnobrσd, Our Lady of Rzeszσw’s Sanctuary –Bernardine Fathers’ Monastery in Rzeszσw, Cathedral Perish of the Church of Resurrection and St. Thomas the Apostle in Zamość, St. Stanislaus Con-cathedral Perish in Lubaczσw, Corpus Christi Collegiate Church in Jarosław, Dominican Fathers’ Monastery in Jarosław, St. Mary Magdalene’s Perish in Biłgoraj, St. Nicolas’s Perish in Grabowiec, St. Bartolomeo the Apostle’s Perish in Goraj, the Holly Cross Perish in Szarowola, as well as the Museum of Zamość in Zamość, the Diocese Museum in Zamość, the National Museum of Przemyśl Land in Przemyśl, Kamienica Orsettich Museum in Jarosław, the Museum of Borderland in Lubaczσw.