Romanovs – The New Orthodox Martyr Saints

The Mdina Cathedral Museum proudly presents Romanovs – The New Orthodox Martyr Saints: A Sacred Reflection by Genia Chef, a profound and visually moving exhibition that bridges history, spirituality, and contemporary sacred art. Through a series of powerful oil paintings and installations, internationally acclaimed artist Genia Chef reimagines the final chapter of the Romanov dynasty not as political drama, but as a spiritual journey from earthly power to sacred martyrdom.

Displayed within the atmospheric setting of the museum’s former refectory and extending into the basement crypt, the exhibition invites visitors on a reflective pilgrimage through large-scale icon-inspired compositions, gold-leaf accents, and a haunting video installation. It reflects the Mdina Cathedral Museum’s mission to present meaningful encounters with sacred art that inspire contemplation, dialogue, and a deeper understanding of our shared human and spiritual heritage.

In hosting this exhibition, the Museum affirms its commitment to intercultural and ecumenical engagement, offering a space where Orthodox and Catholic traditions can meet in respectful artistic dialogue.

Genia Chef is a Berlin-based, Russian-born artist whose work blurs the line between classical iconography and modern symbolism. Born in Kazakhstan to a family marked by political exile, he was raised in Moscow and educated at the Moscow State University of Printing Arts and later at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, where he received the prestigious Fueger Gold Prize.

Now recognized as the founder of Post-Historicism, Chef’s practice fuses historical narrative with contemporary aesthetics to produce a “new visual mythology.” His works have been exhibited globally, from the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg to the Venice Biennale, where his earlier installation Dead House laid the foundation for this exhibition.

Chef’s relationship with Malta spans over a decade, having previously exhibited at both the 2017 and 2023 editions of the Mdina Cathedral Contemporary Art Biennale. Romanovs – The New Orthodox Martyr Saints is his most comprehensive and intimate presentation in Malta to date.

The exhibition revisits the tragic story of the Romanovs, the last Imperial family of Russia—Tsar Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra, and their five children—who were executed in 1918 and later canonised as martyrs by the Russian Orthodox Church. Rather than focusing on their political role, Genia Chef’s work portrays the Romanovs as a family stripped of power, embracing their faith in the face of suffering and death.

This artistic reflection resonates with Malta’s own, often overlooked, historical connection to the Romanovs. In 1798, Tsar Paul I of Russia was elected Grand Master of the Order of Malta, symbolically linking Orthodox Russia with Catholic Malta. The island later served as a refuge for Russian exiles fleeing the Bolshevik Revolution, including Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna who resided at San Anton Palace in 1919. In 2017, her descendant Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna was formally welcomed by the Maltese state. These moments are testament to Malta’s role as a place of sanctuary, spirituality, and historical convergence between East and West.

Exhibition Title: Romanovs – The New Orthodox Martyrs: A Sacred Reflection by Genia Chef
Venue: Mdina Cathedral Museum, St. Paul’s Square, Mdina, Malta
Opening Date: 10th May till 10th June
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday,  9.30 till 4.15 (last entrance), closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Admission: Included in the general museum entry ticket
Website: metropolitanchapter.com/mdina-cathedral-museum/romanovs
Press Images: Available on request or via official press pack

For more information, group bookings, or press enquiries, please contact the museum directly.