Scholars unveil restored 13th-century icon from Rivne region

The restored 13th-century image of the Mother of God. Photo: Rivne Regional Museum of Local Lore

Staff members of the Lviv branch of the National Research Restoration Center have completed work to save the ancient image of the Mother of God from the collection of the regional museum of local lore.

This was reported on Facebook by Rivne Regional Council head Andriy Karaush. The restoration lasted two years, during which specialists managed to stabilize the shrine’s condition and reveal its artistic features.

The icon comes from the Dormition Church in the village of Dorohobuzh and is considered one of the most enigmatic monuments of medieval art. Specialists confirmed that the image combines the strict Byzantine tradition with distinctive features of the local school of painting.

Over the centuries, the panel lost its original gold background and the images of archangels in the corners, while the lower section with a historical inscription had once been cut off.

The exhibition of the restored Hodegetria will open on May 15 at 15:00 in the halls of the Potocki Palace in Lviv. Visitors will be able to see the shrine for one month, after which the icon will return to Rivne.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Institute of National Memory had “restored” an icon based on a seal.

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