83-92

The church of haghios Sozon at Geraki

Αρχαιολογικά χρονικά

• Γκιαούρη, Αιμιλία

Removal of later layers of plaster brought other wall-paintings to light in from the interior walls of the church the area of the Sanctuary, the Diaconicon and in the main part of the church. Preliminary research on the few compositions preserved had produced the following interesting information about the iconography. The Holy Towel is depicted on an embroidered white cloth; instead of in its usual place it appears in the central apse of the Sanctuary amidst officiating hierarchs. In the Flight to Egypt there are the canonical figures of the Holy Mother with the Christ child on a beast of burden and Joseph and Jacob and there is still another figure who shares in the journey. It is the archangel Michael, protector of die Holy Mother and Christ on their journey to Egypt. -This is a rare iconographical feature which reappears in the slightly later wall-painting of the nearby Church of Hag. Nikolaos of Monemvasia in the village of Haghios Nikolaos; the two wall-paintings differ slightly in composition. In the Introduction of the Virgin we have the unusual composition of two maidens introducing the little girl, Maria, to the high priest and not her parents who are off to one side. The main theme of the Introduction of Maria to the Holy of Holies is amalgamated with a previous scene of going from Joachim’s house to the temple. This iconography is taken from the Apocrypha and the First Gospel of Jacob. Greek churches dated to the 13th century provide parallels for this composition. These observations on the iconography of the representations at the church of Hag. Sozon, taken together with the remaining typological features of the other representations, mainly in the apse, provide evidence for dating these frescoes, works of provincial artists, to the first half of the 13th century.

• History and Archaeology
• Arts

• Αρχαιολογία
• Χριστιανικές αρχαιότητες
• Τέχνη

Παλαιοχριστιανική εποχή, Λακωνία

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