Miraculous Icons and Holy Relics in Medieval Bulgaria

The exhibition "Miraclulous Icons and Holy Relics of the Balkans" is a mobile phototype exhibition from the program of the State Institute for Culture of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, realized in collaboration with the Center for Slavic-Byzantine Studies "Prof. Ivan Duychev" at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Icons are one of the emblems of Orthodoxy and an inalienable part of the decoration of the Christian temple since ancient times. 24 panels show churches and monasteries where miraculous icons and holy relics are kept as precious relics. The exhibition uses photos from the archive of the Center for Slavic-Byzantine Studies "Prof. Ivan Duichev" at the Sofia University of “St. Kliment Ohridksi” and photos provided with the courtesy of the abbots of the Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan and Bigor monasteries. The history of each monastery, the legendary biography of each miraculous icon and the customs associated with the temple holidays and the holidays of the saints, whose relics are kept in them, are briefly described. A unique narrative is unfolding before our eyes, which bridges the ages and presents the challenge of living faith in miraculous images, in their power, which is not subject to time, ideologies, theories, and philosophies.