Icons Museum 70 Years — Lives, Miracles, and Legends

70 Years of the Icons Museum — An Anniversary Summer

The Icons Museum Recklinghausen was founded on July 21, 1956 — as a pioneering project in Western Europe aiming to make Orthodox icon painting accessible to a broad audience. Since then, the institution has developed into one of the world's most significant collections and is considered the most important exhibition venue for Orthodox church art outside Orthodox countries. In 2026, the museum celebrates its 70th anniversary with a major special exhibition.

The Anniversary Exhibition “Lives, Miracles, and Legends”

From Saturday, July 18 to Sunday, November 8, 2026, the central anniversary show “Lives, Miracles, and Legends. Icons Tell Stories” will run. It focuses on the narrative function of the icon — as a visual story from the lives of saints, their miracles, and the legends that have shaped identity in the Orthodox cultural sphere.

Icons — More Than Just Pictures

In Orthodox Christianity, icons are not mere pictures but windows to the transcendent world — they make the sacred visible and are active mediators of veneration. The exhibition shows how icons have told the life stories of saints from Russia, the Balkans, Greece, and Ethiopia over centuries — from miraculous healings to martyr legends.

Accompanying Program

• Lecture Series — Art historical and theological interpretations of the exhibition's focal points
• Workshops — Icon painting for adults and children
• Musical Program — Orthodox choral music, concerts with liturgical music
• Dance Program — Contemporary dance contributions on the theme of “Lives of the Saints”
• Open-Air Concert on the Kirchplatz (planned)
• Finissage on August 25, 2026 with free admission and special program

The Icons Museum as an Institution

The museum is located directly on the Kirchplatz in the pedestrianized old town of Recklinghausen — next to the Propsteikirche St. Petrus. The collection comprises over 1,000 icons from Russia, Greece, the Balkans, and Ethiopia, dating from the 14th to the 20th century. For decades, its direction and scientific management have been a hub for international research on icon painting.

Practical Information

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM, closed on Mondays. Admission: €6 (regular), €3 (reduced), children up to 14 years free. During the Finissage on August 25: free for everyone.