A major exhibition dedicated to the spiritual, cultural and artistic world of Mount Athos will open to the public on 14 September at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia. The official opening on 17 October will be held by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
From 14 September to 15 November 2026, the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia will host MOUNT ATHOS, a remarkable exhibition by internationally acclaimed Greek artist, architect and educator Efthymios Warlamis (1942–2016).
Opening to the public on 14 September as a main event of the annual NDK Festival, the exhibition offers Bulgarian audiences an opportunity to encounter the unique spiritual, cultural and artistic world of Mount Athos. Its official opening will take place on 17 October 2026 by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
More Than an Exhibition
Through paintings, sculptures, installations, video, music and documentary material, MOUNT ATHOS presents the monasteries, chapels and monastic cells, the landscape, the Orthodox monks and their ritual life.
At the heart of the project are the enduring values embodied in monastic life – faith, work, patience, respect for the environment, community and humility. Warlamis saw these not simply as values belonging to those who have chosen the monastic path, but as universal principles with meaning for everyone living in contemporary society.
His multifaceted collection does not approach Mount Athos solely from a religious perspective. It also explores its architecture, social structure and way of life, inviting visitors to consider what this centuries-old community can still offer to the modern world.
For women, who traditionally do not have access to Mount Athos, the exhibition provides a particularly rare opportunity to experience something of its unique atmosphere through art.
Efthymios Warlamis – Between Greece and Europe
Born in Veria, Greece, Efthymios Warlamis studied and lived in Austria and developed an extraordinary multidisciplinary career as an architect, painter, writer, designer, educator and sculptor. He taught architecture at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and in 2010 founded and directed the Austrian Museum of Art in Schrems, Lower Austria.
Although Warlamis made his name in Austria and Central Europe, Greece remained at the heart of his artistic work. Among his major thematic collections are ALEXANDER THE GREAT, MOUNT ATHOS, MIKIS THEODORAKIS and THE MOUNTAINS OF MY HOMELAND.
Mount Athos and the values it represents inspired Warlamis from an early age. Through this body of work, he sought to communicate its significance beyond national and religious boundaries and to show how contemporary art can carry a profound spiritual dimension while remaining connected to tradition.
The collection has previously been presented at major cultural institutions in Greece and Austria, including the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki, the Christian Museum in Athens and the Basilica of St Mark in Heraklion, Crete. In 2013, MOUNT ATHOS was also presented at the European Parliament in Brussels.
For its presentation in Sofia, Warlamis’ multifaceted collection will be complemented by works specially provided by the Mount Athos Photo Archive.
An Exhibition to Experience
An extensive educational programme has been developed alongside the exhibition for children, families, school groups and adults.
Its ambition goes beyond attracting visitors: through hands-on activities, music, creative writing, history, architecture and dialogue, the programme aims to allow each participant to develop a personal connection with the world of Mount Athos.
Activities include making a traditional monastic komboskini, exploring monastery architecture and colour, preparing and decorating prosphora, calligraphy in Old Greek and Old Church Slavonic, beeswax candle making, an introduction to Byzantine musical notation, and creative writing inspired directly by Warlamis’ works.
Of particular relevance to Bulgarian audiences is “The Garden of the Virgin: Place, Stone, and Community”, a programme exploring the history, geography and architecture of Mount Athos in comparison with Bulgarian monasteries, including Rila Monastery.
The programme also envisages presentations for adults on the meaning of monastic life in the 21st century and on the significance of Mount Athos in Bulgarian history and culture.
A Cultural Bridge Between Greece and Bulgaria
The exhibition is organised by the Vergina Experimental Workshop, the National Palace of Culture (NDK), the Austrian Museum of Art and the Mount Athos Photo Archive. The initiative has received the support of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Patriarchate of Bulgaria.
Literary and musical events are also planned in cooperation with universities and other institutions from Greece and Bulgaria, further extending the project beyond the exhibition space.
Opportunities for Corporate Support
The organisers are inviting companies and organisations that share the cultural and social values of the project to consider supporting the exhibition.
A range of sponsorship opportunities and corresponding benefits is available, and the organising team is open to discussing individual forms of cooperation with interested partners.
Companies interested in learning more about the sponsorship opportunities or supporting the project are invited to contact the exhibition curator directly:
Pavlos Trochopoulos
Exhibition Curator
Vergina Experimental Workshop
E-mail: ptwarlamis@gmail.com
The Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria is pleased to share this significant cultural initiative with its members and partners – an exhibition that brings together Greece and Bulgaria through art, history, spirituality and a shared cultural heritage.
