Two precious icons that are allegedly stolen from church and monasteries in Epirus, western Greece, have been auctioned by a private gallery in Europe, local media reported.
According to epiruspost, “two of the hundreds of icons stolen from the churches and monasteries of Epirus between 2000 and 2010 were put up for auction. Apparently the vast majority of the area’s unique treasures have ended up abroad and are gradually being sold.”
It is not the first time that stolen icons have been auctioned abroad, the website notes, adding that the same thing happened a few years ago when icons were found in London and Germany.
The two icons have been very well preserved.
One, the icon of Christ the Pantocrator, is reportedly auctioned with starting price at 10,000 euros, while the price for the icon of Panagia Portaitissa is set for 12,000 euros.
Citing reliable sources, epiuruspost writes that the icons come from the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Makrino, Zagori.
The theft reportedly took place in November 2007. The unknown perpetrators entered the church, removed the entire gilded and wood-carved door of the Beautiful Gate and snatched thirty-seven precious icons.
Two of them are for sale and “it remains to be seen the official reaction of the Ministry of Culture and the Greek law enforcement authorities that have been put under the microscope the gang for years,” notes epiruspost.gr
Reported about the issue has also another local media, EpirusTV1 on its Youtube channel.
Epiruspost uploaded the article on April 22, 2020. So far, no official statement on the issue.
