ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΗ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ

The holy martyr Agnes is celebrated on January 21. She was martyred in 304 in Rome during the persecution of Diocletian and was buried in the Christian cemetery outside the city walls. The rest of the cemetery was pagan and owned by the state. That is why in 354 the daughter of Constantine I, Constantina or Costanza, was also buried there, in a magnificent Mausoleum-Rotunda with mosaics. During the reign of Constantine, a large Basilica was built over the Catacombs with the tomb of Saint Agnes and later included the circular Mausoleum of Constantina (photo 2). Because the Basilica collapsed, Pope Honorius rebuilt it in the 7th century and created a magnificent mosaic with the saint in the center and himself to her right holding up the new temple (photo 1). +E. G . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ΤΟ ΠΡΟΒΑΤΟ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ- AGNES CHRISTI Η αγία μάρτυς Agnes εορτάζει στις 21 Ιανουαρίου. «Αγνή» μεταφράζεται στα ελληνικά, αν και agnus στα λατ...

  In the Greek codex Vat.gr.1613, a magnificent manuscript with miniatures by the best painters of Constantinople of the 10th century, the Menologion of Emperor Basil II, on January 18 the saints celebrated are depicted, the Archbishops of Alexandria Cyril (5th century) and Athanasius (4th century). A very characteristic detail is their light head covering, a “thin screen”, a thinly woven fabric like transparent, which is tied under the neck, as is clearly seen on Cyril’s neck. This is a special privilege of the popes of Alexandria, which later evolved into a tiara. It is considered a gift of the Third Ecumenical Council to the respective Archbishop of this great city in Africa. Until the end of the empire, all hierarchs celebrated the Mass with their heads uncovered, in accordance with the order of the Apostle Paul that men pray uncovered in worship, except for the Alexandrian Hierarch. To this day, when celebrating the Liturgy, the Orthodox Patriarch wears the tiara (like Rom...

In the fresco of the Baptism in the Church of St. George in Kurbinovo (1191) in North Macedonia, John the Forerunner appears extremely emaciated, to the point of bordering on caricature. The banks of the river have been rendered similarly “strangely”, with a completely cubist perception, as peculiar triangles. Christ is depicted completely naked, without a loincloth, immersed in water up to his neck. He brings his left hand to his chest, as if accepting baptism from John, while with his right he blesses the waters of the river. The personified river Jordan holds a jar and is young, instead of old, as he is usually presented. Perhaps to remind us of the “new water”, the “ne-a-ro” in greeks. An important detail of the icon is a marble column in the water, which supports a metal cross on its top, perhaps a real monument, which may have marked the exact location of the Baptism in the Jordan and existed during the artist's time. The Church is maintained with the care of the Mini...

In a Gospel Book from the year 1128, originating from the Imperial Palace of Constantinople, today in the Vatican Library (Ms Urb. gr.2), there is a miniature depicting the Birth of John the Baptist. At the bottom of the scene there is a very beautiful wooden cradle with turned railings and legs joined with a curved piece of wood, so that they can easily rock the baby to sleep. The newborn is washed in a gilded metal carved basin, while next to it, to keep the baby warm, a fire burns in a cast-iron brazier with beautiful cast lion heads and a fire pit, where you can also heat water. +E. G . -------------------------------------------------- Σε ένα Ευαγγελιστάριο του έτους 1128, προερχόμενο από το Αυτοκρατορικό Παλάτι της Κωνσταντινούπολης, σήμερα στην Βιβλιοθήκη του Βατικανού ( Ms Urb . gr .2), υπάρχει μια μικρογραφία που παριστάνει την Γέννηση του Ιωάννη του Πρόδρομου. Στο κάτω μέρος της παράστασης υπάρχει μια πολύ όμορφη ξύλινη κούνια με τορνευτά καγκελάκια και ενωμένα πόδια μ...

  The great emperor Basil II, during whose reign the Empire reached its greatest power, ordered and paid for the frescoes of the church of Hagia Sophia in Ohrid (early 11th century). The imperial sponsorship was expressed by a beautiful representation on the walls of the Holy Altar, instead of an inscription. The saint synonymous with the emperor, Saint Basil of Caesarea, was depicted, offering the Mass in front of a Holy Altar with a marble ciborium and a precious imperial purple-blue covering. On the the altar is the Gospel in a sideways position, as it is placed to this day after the Cherubic Hymn, a silver Chalice and a silver Disc with a whole offering bread with a cross seal (without any letters). Behind him, two subdeacons fan the gifts with two angel-shaped fans in their hands. There is no antimensium under the honorable gifts, contrary to today's custom. The Hierarch wears simple all-white vestments with gold-embroidered hand epimanikia and a epigonation. He bows before th...