About competition

General information of the Competition.

The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) hereby announces its Second International Visual Arts Competition, entitled: “The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt: Classical and Contemporary Visual Approaches.”

The competition aims to bring to light artistic interpretations of the Sacred Journey, which—whether situated within or beyond its specific historical and geographical context—approach both the spiritual dimensions and the timeless, profoundly human aspects of this event.

Within the framework of the competition, works may be submitted that either directly depict the event itself or, based on the central theme, highlight the concepts of family, motherhood, and childhood, the need for the protection of children, as well as issues of hospitality, the protection of strangers, and respect for otherness.

Artistic Fields of the Competition

The artistic fields participating in the Competition are Painting and Graphic Arts (Printmaking)

The competition is open to the international artistic community, and artists are free to create their works in the manner they deem appropriate, including both classical and contemporary visual approaches that employ imagination, symbolism, and abstraction.

Objectives of the Competition

The objectives of the Competition are:
• the visual expression of Christian values inspired by a significant event in the life of the God-Man,
• the contribution of art to the promotion of fundamental humanitarian values,
• the affirmation of art’s creative capacity for diversity and renewal through contemporary, classical, abstract, or conceptual approaches.

General Information on the Theme of the Competition

The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt constitutes a defining event in Christian history and a profound symbol of refuge, faith, and divine protection. Beyond a simple escape from danger, this journey embodies hope, hospitality, and the spiritual bond between the broader region of the Middle East and the Holy Family.
In recognition of its outstanding universal value, UNESCO inscribed the celebration of the Route of the Holy Family in Egypt on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2022.
The Route of the Holy Family in Egypt is considered the oldest and longest pilgrimage route in the world, with a total length of approximately 3,500 km (round trip), and includes numerous historic stations, extending from Sinai to Upper Egypt.

The Holy Family in World Art

Throughout history, the Flight into Egypt has been a powerful source of inspiration for artists of different periods, with notable works by:
• Theodoros Apsydis (Byzantine art, Cyprus, 1183)
• Giotto (Italy, 1304–1306)
• Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) (Spain, 1570)
• Luca Giordano (Italy, 1701)
• Joseph Bayer (Austria, 1830)

Aims of the Competition

• The presentation of artistic interpretations inspired by The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt,
• the encouragement of creative dialogue between tradition and contemporary artistic expression,
• the documentation of the spiritual, cultural, and human dimensions of the Route,
• the creation of a distinguished international collection of artworks dedicated to this Sacred Journey.

Publication of the Two-Volume Edition and Organization of a Conference

All artworks will be included in a two-volume publication to be issued by the IAO. Each artist will be allocated a two-page spread: the right-hand page will feature the artwork, while the left-hand page will include the artist’s photograph, biographical details, contact information, and the text submitted by the artist describing their work.

This edition will be quadrilingual and collectable, published on the occasion of the 35 years of activity of the IAO in 2028. It will contribute to the documentation and recording of trends in the field of iconography at the beginning of the new century and will include commentary by members of the Evaluation Committee. The publication will be distributed free of charge to major museums, libraries, churches, and monasteries worldwide, while all participants will receive two copies as a gift.
In October 2028, the IAO will organize an international conférence entitled:
“The Flight of the Holy Family: A Living Image and a Cultural Bridge between East and West.”
All participating artists, as well as international personalities, will be invited to take part. During the conference, the artworks will also be exhibited, and the two-volume publication will be officially presented.