Dozens of protesters gathered outside the National Gallery in Athens on Wednesday evening, demanding the removal of four controversial engravings by visual artist Christophoros Katsadiotis that they claim are offensive to the Greek Orthodox faith. The demonstrators waved crosses, flags, and banners while shouting religious slogans as police formed a protective cordon to prevent them from entering the cultural institution.

The protest was organized by Ellinikos Palmos (Greek Pulse), a recently established conservative movement led by Nikos Papadopoulos, a former member of parliament from the ultra-conservative Niki party. Papadopoulos had previously made headlines in March when he forcibly removed and destroyed the same artworks during their initial exhibition at the gallery.

Protesters chanted slogans such as "Out with the Antichrists from Greece" and accused the National Gallery of displaying what they called "abominations that mock religion." Their anger was directed at four specific pieces titled "Icon 1," "Icon 16," "Icon 17," and "Saint Christopher," which were restored and put back on display in May after being damaged in the March incident.

The controversial artworks have sparked intense debate about religious expression and artistic freedom in Greek society. The March vandalism incident triggered a wave of threats against both the gallery and the artist, highlighting deep divisions over the role of religion in contemporary Greek culture.

Katsadiotis, a Paris-based Greek artist, has defended his work as legitimate artistic expression. "No one, naturally, is obliged to agree with me, ideologically or aesthetically. But this is my point of view," the artist stated, describing his engravings as "a poetic comment on the influence of religion in Greek society." The artist has maintained that his work represents a thoughtful critique rather than an attack on religious beliefs.

The ongoing controversy reflects broader tensions in Greece between traditional religious values and modern artistic expression. The National Gallery has stood by its decision to display the works, viewing the exhibition as part of its mission to showcase diverse contemporary Greek art, despite the vocal opposition from conservative religious groups.