June 14 — November 6, the Louvre will host an exposition of unique Sinai icons of the VI-XIII centuries from the collection of the hereditary Ukrainian intelligentsia — the Khanenko family. Art connoisseurs will see a micromosaic icon of St. Nicholas (XIII century) and icons of the VI-VII centuries — Saint Sergius and Bacchus, Saint John the Baptist, The Virgin and Child and Saints Plato and Glyceria. Icons will become the central part of the Byzantine heritage department.
The icons were prepared and transferred in cooperation with the Khanenko museum and the Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas. After the exposition, the icons will be sent for restoration to the National center for research and restoration of French museums.
Spouses Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko are representatives of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and nobility, lived in Kyiv in the XVIII century and were collectors of antiquities and art. Varvara was one of the first Ukrainian icon collectors. In particular, Varbara bought the icon of St. Nicholas during one of her travels with her husband. After their death, the couple bequeathed the collection to Kyiv, and in 1919, according to the will of the testators, the Khanenko family estate in the centre of Kyiv, along with thousands of priceless paintings and ceramics, was renamed the Khanenko family museum.
On March 18, Russia launched a missile attack on the museum. Fortunately, at this time, the entire collection of Khanenko was taken out and safely protected.
