Iconography in Bilad al-Sham: Roots and Museums and ' exhibition of icons on display

Syrian Ministry of Culture is to sponsor mid-May a scientific forum on "Iconography in Bilad al-Sham: Roots and Museums" and the "Exhibition of Icons" at the Shamieh Hall of the National Museum of Damascus.

Several researchers and scholars from Syria and friendly foreign countries will participate in the 15-16 May forum. Topics centers on the art of Icon painting and engraving in Syria during the Modern Stone Age, wall paintings from Syria during the Byzantine period and traditions of Syrian painting.

Other subjects include a new approach on the restoration of mosaic and Byzantine wall paintings, painting in Syria during the Umayyad period, icons in Syria during the Ottoman period, as well as wall paintings of Marrat Seydnaya, a village some 30 kilometers from Damascus.

Seydnaya, which spreads out over a hilltop surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, has a famous monastery founded in 547, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The name of the village itself, "Seyda Naya" in Syriac means "Our Lady."