Патронната икона на Св. Димитър от Бобошевския манастир
The Patron Icon of St. Demetrius from Boboshevo Monastery

Summary/Abstract: The icon comes from the church of St Demetrius at the Boboshevo monastery. This place of worship was built between 1487 and 1488 and had an iconostasis, of which only the Royal Doors are preserved today. In 1729, they were incorporated in the crafting of the new alter partition, part of which is also the icon under study. The icon shows St. Demetrius seated on a throne, one foot on a scorpion, holding a spear that is piercing it. The two panels on the sides depict scenes from his life and are grouped by six on each side. The two uppermost panels depict St. Demetrius and St George on horse-back. They are followed by these scenes: St. Demetrius talks to Emperor maximian; St Demetrius is being led to prison; St. Demetrius kills the scorpion; St Demetrius blesses St. Nestor; St. Nestor fighting Lyaeus and killing him; St. Nestor talks to the Emperor; maximian orders the death of Nestor and after that of Demetrius; The martyrdom of St Nestor; The martyrdom of St Demetrius; A service before the relics of St. Demetrius. Well-known to specialists of Bulgarian medieval art due to its unique iconography, the icon of St. Demetrius of Boboshevo is yet to find its convincing interpretation of the saint’s life, as depicted on it. None of the cult objects known from across Bulgarian territories contain so many life scenes, as the Boboshevo icon. It is precisely this extremely detailed cycle and the rarity of some of the episodes that are the cause of some difficulty and confusion in determining their content. It is also why this article presents some introductory information on the origin and the development of the cult to St. Demetrius. The main part of the text concerns the descriptions of all life scenes on the icon. Their presentation includes the literary text that was used to visualize the image. Some parallels are also drawn to scenes from the life of this saint as presented on other monuments found in the country and internationally.

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