Athens - A 14th century Byzantine icon that was stolen from a monastery in northern Greece 30 years ago and ended up in the hands of a London-based art collector was returned to Athens, the Culture Ministry said Thursday.
The painting, which depicts Christ being taken down from the cross, disappeared from a monastery in the northern town of Serres in
1978.
According to a report in the daily Kathimerini newspaper, Greek authorities traced its whereabouts in 2002 when a British collector, who is reportedly of Greek origin, attempted to sell it.
Greek authorities alerted British police after the collector allegedly refused to hand over the painting despite being shown evidence that it had been illegally smuggled out of the country.