Exhibition

Light of Byzantium

Βυζαντινό Φως

The exhibition celebrates aspects of the Byzantine legacy and its long-lasting impact on the arts.

Featuring selected works by renowned painter and iconographer Dr Uros (Ouresis) Todorovic, and local artists Stella Sorotou, Maritsa Micos Dragonas and Yiannis Mpalopoulos, the exhibition explores the ways in which the “light” of Byzantium has never stopped shining, inspiring and guiding the versatile and creative endeavours of its ethnic/cultural heirs until nowadays.

Iconographers, Kosta and Anastasia Mitsis will also be demonstrating the ancient tradition of icon painting.

An event you shouldn’t miss!

Light of Byzantium in Art - Presentation by Stella Sorotou

TIME: 3 pm SUNDAY 10 september

The Light of Byzantium shone in all expressions of art: architecture, iconography, mosaics, and hymnography creating masterpieces in the longest-lasting empire in history. Originally it depicted the wealth and power in all their splendor. Gradually, however, it moved to a spiritual level, to a means of teaching that created a sense of approaching the divine vision, pedagogical ideals of virtue, temperance, and modest beauty. An incomparable art that still illuminates the modern world!

Stella Sorotou

Presented by The Let’s Go Greek Festival in conjunction with The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney and curated by Dr Vassilios Adrahtas

The exhibition includes a performance of Byzantine chant by the Melisma Ensemble under the direction of Dr Dimitri Koubaroulis

Time: 1:30 pm Sunday 10 September

EXHIBITION
DATES & Times

SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

  • 11 AM- Exhibition Opens

  • 1:30 PM - Official opening with performance by Melisma Ensemble

  • 3 PM - Artists Presentation - Light of Byzantium in Art - Stella Sorotou

  • 6 PM- Close

SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

  • 6:00 PM - Public Lecture & Exhibition Viewing

    • Becoming a Saint in Byzantium - Dr Vassilis Adrahtas

Public Lecture by Dr Vassilis Adrahtas

Becoming a Saint in Byzantium

The model or ideal of human behaviour and achievement in Byzantium was to become a saint. But a Byzantine saint, depending on the historical period and the social circumstances, could be a number of things: an anchorite, a monk or a nun, someone living on top of a column or on the branches of a tree, a person pretending to be a fool for the sake of Christ, or a hesychast devoted to incessant prayer. Each of these types represents a full range of human life-forms, constituting an amazing tapestry of characters, values, and meanings.

Saturday 16 September - 6:30pm – 8:00pm

Level 1 Exhibition Rooms - 165 George St Parramatta

  • Dr Vassilis Adrahtas teaches in Islamic Studies, Western Sydney University, and is the Convenor of Greek Studies, University of New South Wales. His academic background is in Theology, History of Religion, Philosophy, Sociology and Indigenous Studies. He is the author and co/editor of 10 books. Currently he is involved in researching the history of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia, ahead of the latter’s 100th anniversary next year. Dr Adrahtas lives with his family in Sydney.