“Spiritual Valor”: the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ hosts an exhibition of icons painted on armor plates
On June 19–26, 2023, the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv displayed icons painted on the plates of bulletproof vests that saved the lives of Ukrainian defenders. The ArtArmor project of Ukraine for Heroes Charitable Foundation curated the exhibition.
Andrii Okhotskyi, an iconographer from the Ternopil region, painted the 12 icons. They are united in the “Spiritual Valor” cycle and were created as part of the ArtArmor project. The icons are painted on armor plates from bulletproof vests that were damaged in the war but withstood the occupiers’ bullets, saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
“Spiritual Valor” aims to enhance the role of spirituality in society and preserve national culture through a blend of art, religion and history. It is implemented by creating icons on armor plates that saved the lives of Ukraine’s defenders.
The executors of the ArtArmor project of Ukraine for Heroes Charitable Foundation have organized an exhibition of 12 icons for viewing and honoring at the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, which will last for a week from June 19 to 26. Previously, the icons had also been displayed at the Kyiv Three Saints Theological Seminary.
“Through this exhibition, we want to testify to our constant prayer for Ukrainian defenders who are stopping the brutal aggressor at the cost of their own lives. Believers who visit the exhibition can touch in prayer the things that are blessed not with holy water only but, moreover, by the blood of our heroes. They will have a wonderful opportunity to pray for a just peace for the Motherland, standing before the face of the Lord God and the saints depicted on these plates,” said His Beatitude Sviatoslav, the Father and Head of the UGCC.
These icons, painted on armor plates damaged by enemy bullets, were presented by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Pope Francis and the Presidents of Poland and Lithuania.
In the future, the sub-project is expected to create a separate exhibition featuring 24 icons from each region of Ukraine, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Kyiv, and Sevastopol, which will reflect the iconographic characteristics of each area. Each image will be painted on a separate armor plate that saved the life of a Ukrainian soldier.
