Two 14th-century Byzantine icons depicting the Evangelists Matthew and Mark have been returned to Cyprus more than 50 years after they were stolen following the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. The icons, which were discovered in the United Kingdom, are important surviving examples of medieval Byzantine religious art.
The Holy Metropolis of Morphou announced the repatriation earlier this month, marking the recovery of two more artworks from a collection that was dispersed during the upheaval of the 1970s.
Medieval Treasures from the Church of Asinou
St Matthew the Evangelist, Cyprus, 14th century, egg tempera and gold leaf on wood, 63 × 51 cm, Church of Panagia Phorviotissa, Asinou
The two icons date to the Palaiologan period of Byzantine art, during the final centuries of the Byzantine Empire. They originally belonged to the Church of Panagia Phorviotissa, also known as the Church of Asinou, one of Cyprus’s most significant surviving medieval churches.
Located in the Troodos Mountains, the church is particularly renowned for its Byzantine wall paintings, which span several centuries. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region.
The icons of Matthew and Mark were part of a larger Great Deesis series, depicting Christ surrounded by the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, apostles and evangelists. Such arrangements were an important feature of Byzantine religious imagery.
Before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the icons had been transferred from Asinou to the premises of the Holy Metropolis of Kyrenia. They were subsequently stolen from that location.
Recovered in the United Kingdom
St Mark the Evangelist, Cyprus, 14th century, egg tempera and gold leaf on wood, 63.5 × 47.5 cm, Church of Panagia Phorviotissa, Asinou
The icons were eventually located in the United Kingdom. After their movements were documented and the Church of Cyprus’s legal rights established, arrangements were made for their return. The holder agreed to surrender the artworks without seeking financial compensation.
The recovery involved Byzantine scholar Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou, art historian Maria Paphiti, formerly of Christie’s auction house, and Bishop Porphyrios of Neapolis. Lawyer George Hadjipieris coordinated the legal process, with assistance from the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, police and Interpol.
The icons are painted in egg tempera and gold leaf on wooden panels. The image of Matthew measures 63 × 51 centimetres, while that of Mark measures 63.5 × 47.5 centimetres.
Other Medieval Icons Remain Missing
The two recovered artworks belong to a larger collection of Byzantine icons from Asinou. Two others, depicting the Apostles Peter and Paul, were returned to Cyprus from New York in 2007.
An icon of Christ Pantocrator also survives, but four others remain missing: those depicting the Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist, St John the Theologian and St Luke. The recovery of Matthew and Mark represents another step towards reuniting this medieval collection, although the other components have yet to be located.
Two 14th-century Byzantine icons depicting the Evangelists Matthew and Mark have been returned to Cyprus more than 50 years after they were stolen following the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. The icons, which were discovered in the United Kingdom, are important surviving examples of medieval Byzantine religious art.
The Holy Metropolis of Morphou announced the repatriation earlier this month, marking the recovery of two more artworks from a collection that was dispersed during the upheaval of the 1970s.
Medieval Treasures from the Church of Asinou
The two icons date to the Palaiologan period of Byzantine art, during the final centuries of the Byzantine Empire. They originally belonged to the Church of Panagia Phorviotissa, also known as the Church of Asinou, one of Cyprus’s most significant surviving medieval churches.
Located in the Troodos Mountains, the church is particularly renowned for its Byzantine wall paintings, which span several centuries. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Painted Churches in the Troodos Region.
The icons of Matthew and Mark were part of a larger Great Deesis series, depicting Christ surrounded by the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, apostles and evangelists. Such arrangements were an important feature of Byzantine religious imagery.
Before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the icons had been transferred from Asinou to the premises of the Holy Metropolis of Kyrenia. They were subsequently stolen from that location.
Recovered in the United Kingdom
The icons were eventually located in the United Kingdom. After their movements were documented and the Church of Cyprus’s legal rights established, arrangements were made for their return. The holder agreed to surrender the artworks without seeking financial compensation.
The recovery involved Byzantine scholar Christodoulos Hadjichristodoulou, art historian Maria Paphiti, formerly of Christie’s auction house, and Bishop Porphyrios of Neapolis. Lawyer George Hadjipieris coordinated the legal process, with assistance from the Cyprus Department of Antiquities, police and Interpol.
The icons are painted in egg tempera and gold leaf on wooden panels. The image of Matthew measures 63 × 51 centimetres, while that of Mark measures 63.5 × 47.5 centimetres.
Other Medieval Icons Remain Missing
The two recovered artworks belong to a larger collection of Byzantine icons from Asinou. Two others, depicting the Apostles Peter and Paul, were returned to Cyprus from New York in 2007.
An icon of Christ Pantocrator also survives, but four others remain missing: those depicting the Virgin Mary, St John the Baptist, St John the Theologian and St Luke. The recovery of Matthew and Mark represents another step towards reuniting this medieval collection, although the other components have yet to be located.
Images courtesy of Holy Metropolis of Morphou
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