MOHA Research Center presented a hagiography exhibition in Imaret.

Charalambos Gambrelis summarized almost half a century of his Apprenticeship in the Byzantine Art of Hagiography, presenting some selected works in the imposing Mestjit of Imaret. The “Apprenticeship” included paintings made by Charalambos’ hand, both newer – created during the pandemic – and older from private collections. Among them were “interpretations” of the Thassian Saints [Saint John of Thassos, Saint Haido, Saint Daniel]. All works were presented for the first time to the public.

At the laboratory on Koundouriotou Street… The renaissance forms from the father’s many years of study in the Mount Athos hermitage, guide the first “baptism”. The “Byzantine revelations” comes as manna from heaven through the linguistic magic of Fotis Kontoglou. The precious Expression catalyze the continuation, and the technical instructions of the great Master evolve into a “spark of aesthetics”. For ever. Afterward, the works of the nun Olympias, Vlassis Tsotsonis and mainly George Kordis, act beneficially and set the rules of the “new toil”. And also, a new commitment to a long-term Apprenticeship…

Charalambos Gambrelis was born in Kavala in 1958. At the age of 15, he left the high school and moved to his father’s hagiography laboratory. Since then, he has been practicing the Byzantine Art and at the same time being active in the field of Culture. He has been the founder and artistic director of the Old Conservatory complex, publication consultant of the monthly magazine PeriOdiko, artistic director of the Thassos Festival in 2003 and 2004, as well as columnist for the newspapers Chronometro and Nea Egnatia.

The exhibition was hosted in the Mesjid of Imaret from July 22 to August 29, 2021.

Official opening of the exhibition: Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 20:30.
Days & hours of operation: Thursday to Sunday, 20:30-23:00.