Kelly Family, Descendants of Princess Grace of Monaco, Gift Sacred Icon to Kylemore Abbey
By The Kylemore Abbey Team
The Benedictine Community at Kylemore Abbey has received a significant new work of sacred art with the presentation and blessing of The Synaxis of the Holy Apostles, an original icon created by American iconographer and professor Susan Kelly von Medicus.
The icon was blessed by Fr. Tony King during the Abbey's midday Mass before being formally presented to the Benedictine Community in the presence of members of the donor's family and friends. Created in the tradition of the Prosopon School of Iconography, The Synaxis of the Holy Apostles is painted in egg tempera using natural mineral pigments and finished with 23 karat gold leaf. The work has been donated by Susan Kelly von Medicus and The Poleberry Foundation, with the presentation facilitated by Martin Dunphy.
The Benedictine Community expressed its gratitude for the gift, saying:
"We give thanks for the generous gift of Synaxis of the Holy Apostles, an exquisite icon by Susan Kelly von Medicus, donated by The Poleberry Foundation and the artist. May this sacred work inspire prayer, reflection and devotion for all who encounter it. We are deeply grateful for this lasting gift and are honoured to give it a prominent place within our monastery."
Susan Kelly von Medicus, a professor at Villanova University near Philadelphia, is an accomplished iconographer whose work follows centuries old Christian traditions of icon writing. Her gift reflects a shared commitment to preserving the role of sacred art as an aid to prayer and contemplation.
The presentation also reflected the enduring connection between Ireland and its diaspora. The Kelly family traces its roots to County Mayo, where John Henry Kelly and Mary Costello Kelly emigrated to the United States in 1869. Among their descendants was Princess Grace of Monaco, whose family has maintained close ties with the west of Ireland for generations.
Now installed at Kylemore Abbey, The Synaxis of the Holy Apostles will become a permanent part of the monastery, offering visitors and pilgrims a place for quiet reflection while enriching the Abbey's long tradition of faith, hospitality and sacred beauty.