Chrétiens d'Orient, the exhibition at the Institut du Monde Arabe

The exhibition Chrétiens d'Orient presented at theInstitut du Monde Arabe from September 26, 2017 to January 14, 2018 promises to be an event.

At a time when the destructive crisis affecting the Middle East is threatening Christians, it seemed essential to the Institut du Monde Arabe to place the history of Eastern Christians within the history of Arab World civilization.

Thus, this exhibition will offer a journey through the religious, political, cultural and artistic history of these Christian communities, spanning more than 2 millennia. Through 300 magnificent pieces, such as models, parchments, mosaics, writings and paintings, some of which are considered heritage masterpieces never before shown in Europe, we will learn in detail how the Christian sphere in the East was formed.

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The chronological tour takes us back to the emergence of Christianity in the pagan Roman Empire and its spread to the East through missions of conquest, which led to the formation of several churches, including the Coptic, Assyrian-Chaldean, Syriac, Armenian and Maronite. After theadvent of Islam, the Christians who had already settled there continued to play a major role in administration and intellectual and social life, both under the various caliphates and in the Ottoman Empire (1453-1923), as they were regarded as cultural bridges.

Considered as dhimmis (protégés), Eastern Christians lived peacefully in the region until the 19th century, when nationalism emerged and awakened awareness of belonging to the Arab world. Unfortunately, the violent independence of the countries of the Maghreb and the Orient had a destructive effect on Eastern Christians, who had to fight for the preservation of their material heritage and their place in the Arab world.

So, after a historical exploration, the exhibition gives a voice to today's Eastern Christians, for touching testimonies full of hope!

Practical info
Chrétiens d'Orient at the Institut du Monde
From September 26, 2017 to January 14, 2018
Location: 1 rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris
Opening hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday
Admission: €12, €10 concessions, €6 -26, unemployed
Online booking

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.