Moscow-Florence, Betori blesses the exchange

The Archbishop of Florence, Monsignor Giuseppe Betori, called the exhibition of three precious icons of Russian art in the Baptistery of Florence “an exchange of art and faith.” Betori added: “We are not facing one of the many art exhibitions. Here art and faith intersect themselves. If the shape of Eastern and Western Christian art can be perceived as very different from each other should not be forgotten that the root is only.”

The exchange of masterpieces of the art and faith, called “In Christo” is inaugurated last days in Russian capital. At the Tretiakov gallery of Moscow, temple of the Russian art, for the first time accommodates two great works of Giotto, both coming from the Opera of Santa Maria del Fiore of Florence. They will remain exposed until 19 March. To the inauguration of the exhibition they are taken part the Italian ambassador to Moscow Antonio Zanardi Landi and the archbishop of Florence Giuseppe Betori.

In Florence, will be exposed in the Baptistry tuntil 19 March three precious icons of Russian ancient art of the Tretiakov, never returned in a church after to be become pieces from museum as a result of the revolution of 1917. Among that masterpieces the icon of the Ascension painted in 1408 by the greatest painter of icons of the Russian tradition, Andrei Rubliov.