Within the Thēsaurós, a small, intimate and solemn room is dedicated to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, an incursion into the refinement of Byzantine religious art and the liturgical traditions of Eastern Christianity.
It includes two silver trays decorated with elegant plant motifs and bearing the etched signature of Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as two silver platters – one bearing the symbol of the Patriarchate, the other depicting Apostles Paul and Barnabas.
A special place is taken up by the icon of St. Emilian, gifted to President Emil Constantinescu upon his baptism – an item that ties Byzantine spirituality to the recent history of Romania and highlights the continuity of the Orthodox faith within the Romanian space.
This room is closely linked with the mission of the Annual School of Byzantine Studies, which aims to enhance our understanding of Byzantine culture and spirituality by way of interdisciplinary research and academic dialogue. Moreover, the objects on display also enrich the experience of participants to the Annual School of Ancient Greek, Egyptology and Classical Languages, offering a visual and material context for the exploration of Byzantine sacred texts, liturgy and theological language.
Through this bridge between heritage, education and research, the hall becomes more than a mere exhibition space, turning into a space for reflection and coalescence, framed in the spirit of a continuous dialogue between past and present, between culture and faith.
July 18 2025
November 19 2025
