It’s all coming to the Minnesota History Center Sept. 27, 2008, in an exhibit called “Vatican Splendors.”

Jessica Kohen, media relations and e-communications specialist for the Minnesota History Center, said, “The Vatican Museums are one of the most famous and renowned cultural institutions of the Holy See. They are known everywhere because of the masterpieces which the Roman Pontiffs have commissioned, collected and preserved [throughout] the ages. Visitors will have the opportunity to view extraordinary works by some of the world’s greatest masters and objects from ancient foreign civilizations.”

“Vatican Splendors” gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the Vatican, Catholicism and the history of the Pontiff over the years. Dennis McGrath, director of communications for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said, “The exhibit traces the 2,000-year-old history of Christianity through these sacred items that will be on display. Whether Catholic or not, Christians of all stripes will be moved by, for example, the Mandylion of Edessa. Then there are equally moving paintings from antiquity such as the 17th century ‘Portrait of Christ with a Crown of Thorns,’ painted by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri or the 17th century painting, ‘The Crucifixion,’ by Leonard Bramer. Christians who view and mediate on these works may well have a deep spiritual experience.”

“The exhibition was created in celebration of the [500 year] anniversary of the establishment of the Vatican Museums, the Swiss Guard and the building of the modern day basilica,” said Mark Greenberg, president of Evergreen Exhibitions. “The objects were chosen to help illuminate a number of themes including: the Foundations of the Church and early Christianity, 500 years of the Vatican, the work of the Pope and the Church’s dialog with the world and individual stories of the Popes.”

“Vatican Splendors” will be in St. Paul for only 15 weeks. St. Paul is one of only three cities in the United States to host the exhibit.

“It’s a great opportunity for those who do not have the opportunity to travel to the Vatican to be able to experience a small part of their collection. We want visitors to feel transported to the Vatican, from the underground catacombs where the remains of Saint Peter were discovered to the magnificent papal chambers found above ground,” Greenberg said. “It represents one of the largest collections of art and objects from the Vatican to tour North America. Many of these works have never before been outside Vatican City.”

Some of these exhibits include a Cast of Pope John Paul II’s hands that visitors may actually touch, Mandylion of Edessa, a recreated Sistine Chapel environment, the reliquary which encases Saint Peter’s bones, works by Giotto di Bondone and others, and the compass of Michelangelo Buonarroti. “Vatican Splendors” is much more than an art exhibition; it is an experience visitors may not soon forget.

McGrath said, “For anyone who appreciates great spiritually-inspired paintings and sculpture, the exhibit is also a work of wonder. How special an experience it will be for evangelical Christians to see how these great artists have captured the human likeness and the faith and devotion to Christ of John the Baptist, Saint Paul the Apostle and Saint Luke the Evangelist …. [This] exhibit captures and illustrates the history of the world’s first great Christo-centric faith and evangelistic adventure; the root from which also flowed other Christian religions that exist today. Catholic or not, that history is undeniable and unassailable, even with its flaws because it is the foundation of all Christian worship. ‘Thou are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my Church.’”


ACTION POINT: For more information visit www.vaticansplendors.com.