The Museum of the Holy Monastery of Skiadi and the Exhibition “the Natural World in the Worship of the Church”
Purpose of establishing the Museum of the Holy Monastery of Skiadi
The Museum of the Holy Monastery of Skiadi aims to preserve and display the remaining relics and artefacts of the monastery, which were preserved after it was deserted. Additionally, it aims to highlight to the general public the monastery's living relationship with the inhabitants and the broader human-made and natural environment of southern Rhodes and Halki. Every year, the Lady of southern Rhodes, Panagia Skiadeni, undertakes an Easter procession, carried on foot with the help of the faithful from village to village, sanctifying homes and the natural surroundings. This procession is deeply connected with the customs and culture of the region.
The museum's exhibition is titled “The Natural World in the Worship of the Church”. The significant role of the natural world in the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church is the theme presented through the objects in the collection. Specifically, how material elements are “transformed” and participate in divine worship, while simultaneously “lending” their idealized form for the decoration of liturgical objects.
The exhibition tour is experiential, featuring multi-sensory displays and a comprehensive guide for visually impaired and blind individuals. Visitors engage their hearing, smell, and touch, as throughout all rooms there are tablets with headphones, discovery drawers, and a scent table. Specifically for blind individuals, there are tactile diagrams and explanatory texts in Braille, connected with an embossed strip.
