Liturgical texts of the saints painted at the Church of St Demetrios, Arbanassi Cover Image
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Литургични текстове на светците, изписани в църквата „Св. Димитър” в Арбанаси
Liturgical texts of the saints painted at the Church of St Demetrios, Arbanassi

Author(s): Elena Popova
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, History, Archaeology, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture, Visual Arts, Theology and Religion
Published by: Институт за изследване на изкуствата, Българска академия на науките

Summary/Abstract: The naos of the Church of St Demetrios, Arbanassi was painted in 1621 following an expansion of the building. The initial construction dedicated to St George was covered with murals painted supposedly in the last two or so decades of the seventeenth century, on which a later overlayer was painted. Fragments of the scene The Adoration of the Lamb of the overlayer in what is now the narthex of the Chapel of St George in the chancel and the naos (1621) have survived. In the chancel of the naos of the Church of St Demetrios, the best part of the representations of the saints officiating at the Episcopal celebration of the Divine Liturgy have survived, but the Greek texts on their scrolls are almost obliterated. Fragmentally, certain signs are readable, allowing reconstructing some of the liturgical quotations traditionally inscribed beside certain images. Only fragments of the murals at the Chapel of St George have survived. Of the figures of the six hierarchs in the apse, only the name of St Athanasius has not been lost. The texts on their scrolls are legible though––both related to the doctrine of the Trinity––allowing for establishing the saints’ identity. Finally, to recap, both teams of icon painters working in the early seventeenth century at the naos and the chapel of the Church of St Demetrios, Arbanassi, were well versed in theology.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 22-31
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Bulgarian