The museum is housed in the
church of Theotokos "Kyra Antivouniotissa",
one of the oldest and most important Post-Byzantine monuments of Kerkyra. The church was built before the end of the 15th century and belongs to the
type of Eptanesian Basilica.
In 1979, the owners of the church, namely the families of Alamanos, Mylonopoulos, Rizikakis and Scarpas, donated the whole monumental complex to the Greek state, in order to
become a museum, which was inaugurated in 1984. A decade later was completed the restoration of the monument and in 2000 the
exhibition
of Post-Byzantine
portable icons
and
sacred objects.
In their majority the exhibits come from the church of Antivouniotissa, but also from the old Christian Collection of the Museum of Asian Art.
Among the most important exhibits of the museum are:
-
Icon of Theotokos Odigitria.
The Virgin holds with Her left hand the Christ Child, following the Constantinopolitan iconographic type. Busts of the Archangels Gabriel and Michael are depicted at the top corners. Dated to the end of the 15th century AD.
-
Icon of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, and St. Justina.
The figures are depicted in full length, treading on a three-headed dragon. This icon was painted by Michael Damaskenos to commemorate the victory of the European forces against the Turks, in the naval battle of Nafpaktos in 1571.
-
Icon of St. Demetrios
who is represented riding a horse, in front of the city of Thessaloniki. Dated to the end of the 16th or the beginning of the 17th century.
-
Icon of St. Cyril of Alexandreia.
The Saint is depicted in full length, facing the spectator and dressed in richly decorated garments. It was painted by Emmanuel Tzanes, in 1654.
-
"Noli me tangere" (touch me not).
Christ appears before Mary Magdalen, after His Resurrrection. The icon is signed by Emmanuel Tzanes and is dated to 1657.
