ICONS
© Държавен културен институт към министъра на външните работи, 2022 г.
© Център за славяно-визанитйски проучвания „Проф. Иван Дуйчев“, 2022 г.
© д-р Александра Трифонова, автор, 2022 г.
© гл. ас. д-р Мария Тотоманова-Панева, превод на английски език, 2022 г.
© д-р Людмил Веселинов, художник, 2022 г.
© Снимки: проф. Христо Темелски, проф. Сашо Цветковски, гл. ас. д-р Светозар Ангелов, гл. ас. д-р Александра Трифонова, д-р Марина Матич, Мина Христемова, Иглика Трифонова, 2022 г.
© State Institute for Culture at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, 2022
© Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies “Prof. Ivan Dujčev”, 2022
© Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Alexandra Trifonova, autor, 2022
©
Sen. Assist. Prof. Maria Totomanova-Paneva, english translation, 2022
© Dr. Lyudmil Veselinov, graphic design, 2022
© Photos: Prof. Hristo Temelski, Prof. Sašo Cvetkovski, Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Svetozar Angelov, Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Alexandra Trifonova, Dr. Marina Matić Mina Hristemova, Iglika Trifonova, 2022
HOLY RELICS
СОФИЯ 2022 SOFIA
Скъпи читатели,
Dear readers,
част от наратива за силата на чудотворните икони и светите мощи по нашите земи. Увлекателните истории, които ще прочетете за тях, са споделяни между хората на Балканите от векове. Тази съхранена памет е истински културен мост и още един повод
We are pleased to present to you the exhibition Miraculous Icons and Holy Relics in the Balkans which is a joint project of the State Institute for Culture at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Centre for SlavoByzantine Studies “Prof. Ivan Dujčev” at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. The exhibition has been successfully displayed and attracting increasing interest as part of the programs of our diplomatic missions. This catalogue is an integral part of the narrative of the power of miraculous icons and holy relics in our region. The fascinating stories you are about to read have been shared among people in the Balkans for centuries. This living memory throws a true cultural bridge and presents yet another occasion and a confirmation of our efforts to promote the relations between us in the name of our common European future.
TEODORA GENCHOVSKA Minister of Foreign AffairsВместо увод In lieu of a preface
В настоящия каталог е включена основната част от материалите от постерната изложба „Чудотворни икони и свети мощи на Балканите“ с автори Александра Трифонова, Аксиния Джурова и Вася Велинова. Тя е резултат от съвместен проект на Центъра за славяно-визанитйски проучвания „Проф. Иван Дуйчев“ към СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“ и Държавния културен институт към МВнР. Каталогът представя чудотворни икони и мощи, съхранявани в църкви и манастири на територията на балканските държави, запознава накратко с историята на тези обители, с легендарната биография на всяка чудотворна икона и с обичаите, свързани с храмовите празници и празниците на светците, чиито мощи се съхраняват в тях. Пред очите на читателите се разгръща един своеобразен наратив, който хвърля мост през вековете и представя предизвикателството на живата вяра в чудотворните образи, в тяхната сила, неподвластна на времето, идеологиите, теориите, философиите. И предлага теми за размисъл за съдбата на човешкото у човека в бъдеще. В каталога са използвани снимки от архива на Центъра за славяно-византийски проучвания „Проф. Иван Дуйчев“ към СУ „Св. Климент Охридски“, проф. Христо Темелски, проф. Сашо Цветковски, гл. ас. д-р Светозар Ангелов, гл. ас. д-р Александра Трифонова, д-р Марина Матич, Мина Христемова, както и снимки, предоставени с любезното съдействие на Рилския,
This catalogue includes the materials from the poster exhibition Miraculous Icons and Holy Relics in the Balkans created by Alexandra Trifonova, Axinia Džurova and Vassja Velinova. It is the result of a joint project of the Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies “Prof. Ivan Dujčev” at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the State Institute for Culture at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The catalogue presents miraculous icons and holy relics preserved at churches and monasteries in the territory of the Balkan countries, briefly describes the history of each monastery, the legendary biography of each miracle-working icon and the customs associated with the church feasts and the feasts of the saints whose relics are stored there. A narrative unfolds before the eyes of the readers, throwing a bridge over the centuries and presenting the challenge of the living faith in the miraculous images and in their timeless power, untouched by ideologies, theories and philosophies, and suggesting themes for reflection on the fate of humaneness in the future.
The catalogue features photographs from the archives of the Centre for Slavo-Byzantine Studies “Prof. Ivan Dujčev” at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Prof. Hristo Temelski, Prof. Sašo Cvetkovski, Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Svetozar Angelov, Sen. Assist. Prof. Dr. Alexandra Trifonova, Dr. Marina Matić, Mina Hristemova, as well as photos provided by courtesy of the Reverend Fathers, hegoumens of the Rila, Bachkovo, Troyan and Bigorski monasteries. The photos from Bachkovo and Troyan are made by Iglika
Trifonova, photographer of Sofia University Press. The catalogue has been prepared with the financial support of the State Institute for Culture at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
ЧУДОТВОРНИ ИКОНИ И СВЕТИ МОЩИ
MIRACULOUS ICONS AND HOLY RELICS
Иконата е една от емблемите на православието. Думата е с гръцки произход и означава буквално „образ“. Иконата е изображение на свещено за християнската църква лице или на сцена от Свещеното писание, пред което се покланят в молитвено вглъбяване вярващите християни. Почитта, която те отдават на образа, преминава към неговия свещен и умонепостижим първообраз благодарение на мистичната връзка между тях, както твърди св. Василий Велики. Именно заради тази сакрална дихотомия между материален образ и съвършен, но сетивно недостъпен първообраз, иконата е обект на съзерцателно размишление и индивидуално единение с божественото. Иконите освен това са неотменна част от украсата на християнския храм от най-древни времена. Нил Синайски през V в. пише, че мястото им е в църквите, защото те „наставляват във вярата онези, които не познават и не могат да четат Св. Писание“. Няколко столетия по-късно, през VІІІ в., най-изявеният
на иконопочитанието, Йоан Дамаскин, доразвива твърдението
The icon is one of the emblems of Orthodoxy. The word is of Greek origin and literally means “image”. The icon is an image of a saint of the Christian church or a scene from the Holy Scripture that Christians worship in prayer. The honor offered to the image passes to its sacred and inconceivable archetype by virtue of the mystical connection between them, as St. Basil the Great claims. It is precisely because of this sacral dichotomy between material image and perfect but sensorily inaccessible archetype that the icon is subject to contemplative meditation and unity with the divine. Since ancient times, icons have been an integral part of the decoration of Christian churches. In the 5th century Nilus of Sinai wrote that icons belonged in churches because they “instruct in the faith those who do not know and cannot read the Holy Scripture.” A few centuries later, in the 8th century, the most prominent proponent of the veneration of icons, John of Damascus, further developed his statement by saying, “What the book is to the literate, icons are to the illiterate, and what speech is to hearing, that the icon is to sight.”
The icon’s influence lies in its polysemy, since the images are devoid of individuality, but are bearers of specific theological messages. They are not works of art per se. Instead, they subordinate the whole power of their aesthetic suggestions to the idea of the knowledge of God. They cannot be understood, felt, appreciated outside the context of the temple’s hierotopy and ritual practice. And all of this gives them the power to work miracles because they allow believers to meet God, and this has a particular consequence in their lives, for it brings them salvation.
The legend has it that the earliest painted icon was an image of the Holy Mother of God painted by St. Luke the
The oldest extant icons date back to the 5th–6th centuries AD and are preserved in St. Catherine Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai (from where some icons were taken to Kiev) and in Rome. Almost no icons have survived from the period of the 8th–9th centuries, as this was the time of Iconoclasm in Byzantium (726–843). It began with Emperor Leo III the Isaurian’s edict against the cult and the veneration of icons and relics, for according to the iconoclasts, every image of God is false, and the only true image is to be sought in the heart. The icons were declared a heresy, and their veneration was considered idolatry. In only a century, priceless works of Christian art – icons, mosaics and frescoes – were destroyed, and the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, lost its place as an art center setting the models for the rest of the world.
The veneration of icons was restored at the church council in Constantinople (843) convened by the Byzantine Empress Theodora II (815–867). Orthodox faith, associated with the possibility of depicting the incarnated Word, was established, and the icons were reestablished as images of veneration. This event was marked by the introduction of the church feast Sunday of Orthodoxy (Orthodox Sunday) which is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent, commemorating the victory of Orthodoxy over iconoclasm.
The icons are made of different materials – marble, steatite, ivory, but most often they are painted on wood. Usually, the image on the icon occupies only one of its sides. Bilateral icons, depicted on both sides, are more rear. They appeared from the 12th century onwards and were generally intended for liturgical processions outside the temple on church feasts or during prayers for ending disasters, epidemics, or enemy attacks. The most famous procession icon was the icon of Theotokos Hodegetria (One who Shows the Way) from the Monastery of Hodegon in the Byzantine capital city of Constantinople, painted, according
са изработвани от различни
– мрамор, стеатит, слонова кост, но
Най-старите запазени до днес икони, датират от V–VI в. сл. Хр. и се съхраняват в Синайския манастир „Св. Екатерина“ в Египет, (откъдето някои попадат в Киев) и в Рим. В периода от VIII–IX в. почти няма запазени икони, тъй като това е времето на иконоборството във Византия (726–843 г.). То започва с издаването на заповед от император Лъв III Исавър, забраняваща култа и поклонението пред иконите и реликвите, тъй като според иконоборците всяко изображение на Бога е лъжовно, а единственият истински образ може да се носи само в сърцето. Иконите се обявяват за ерес, а почитането им – за идолопоклонничество, като за повече от век сa унищожeни безценни творби на християнското изкуство – икони, мозайки и стенописи, а столицата на Византийската империя – Константинопол – престава да бъде творчески и задаващ моделите център. Възраждането на почитта към иконите настъпва след църковния събор в Константинопол (843 г.), свикан от византийската императрица Теодора II (815–867 г.), когато се утвърждава православната вяра, свързана с възможността за изобразяване на въплътеното Слово, и иконите отново се обявяват за образ на поклонение. Това събитие е отбелязано с въвеждането на църковния празник Неделя на православието (Неделя православна) и се чества в първата неделя от Великия пост, ознаменувайки победата на православието над иконоборството. Фиг. 1. Св. ев. Лука рисува иконата на св. Богородица, миниатюра на ръкопис (XIII в.), Синайски манастир „Св. Екатерина“, Египет Fig. 1. St. Luke the Evangelist painting the icon of the Mother of God, miniature (13th c.), St. Catherine Monastery of Sinai, Egypt
to the legend, by St Luke the Evangelist. It was taken out to a solemn procession every Tuesday as it was considered the protector of Constantinople.
Miraculous icons are associated with performing a miracle or several miracles, since they possess a supernatural power obtained from Christ, the Mother of God or a saint. A basic prerequisite for the manifestation of their miraculous power is the faith of the person praying before the icon, whether the icon is old or not. The miraculous icons of the Theotokos are the most numerous. They are accompanied by original names, in most cases related to
The icons that were not-made-by-hands (αχειροποίητες), which are believed not to be produced by the hands of man, are usually regarded as miraculous. The first such icon is the image of the Savior Not-Made-byHands that appeared miraculously on a piece of cloth and is therefore known also as the Holy Mandylion (άγιο Μανδήλιο).
чудесата, извършвани от Христос, и му се помолил за изцеление. Тогава Иисус допрял лицето
където по чудодеен начин се отпечатал
Лаон, Франция Fig. 3. The Holy Mandylion, icon (13th c.), Cathedral Laon
Legend has it that the Armenian King of Edessa Abgar was afflicted with an incurable disease. He had heard of Jesus’ miracles and wrote to Him asking to be cured. Jesus took a cloth, pressed it to his face and his image was miraculously imprinted on it. Then he sent it to the king and when Abgar saw the image, he healed. Since then, this image of Christ not-made-by-hands has been on display for worship at the city gates in Edessa. Later the grandchild of king Abgar decided to remove the Holy Mandylion from the town’s gate, but the bishop of the town, seeing his intention, saved the relic. He walled it up in the wall of the gate, covered it with a tile and placed a burning candle in front of it. Time later bishop Eulabios received a vision in his dream to find the acheiropoietos icon of Christ. He found the walled up Holy Mandylion together with the tile, on which the image of God was depicted. This became known as Holy Keramion (Holy Brick / άγιο Κεράμιο). According to the tradition, the Holy Mandylion and the Holy Keramion were taken as trophies to Constantinople in 944, where they stayed until
са покрити с обкови или ризници (επενδύσεις, πουκάμισα, revetments). Известно е, че редица чудотворни
1204, when the city was captured by the Latins, and they were lost.
Miraculous icons are believed to manifest their divine power in two ways: they are either healing and miraculously cure diseases, or myrrh-streaming when sweet myrrh begins to seep from them. Believers collect the myrrh and carry it with them as a sign of divine protection.
Miraculous icons are usually framed in with repousse covers (επενδύσεις, πουκάμισα, revetments). It is a well-known fact that several miraculous icons in Constantinople used to have revetments such as the icon of the Hodegetria (One who Shows the Way) at the Monastery of Hodegon, which is believed to be the work of St. Luke the Evangelist. The covers are made of precious metal, mainly silver, gilt silver and more rarely gold, and are decorated with gems or semiprecious stones, pearls, and enamel. The commissioning of precious covers is an expression of the great reverence of the believers.
Sometimes the revetments cover the whole icon except for the face or faces, and more rarely the hands of the
вотиви върху нея, както напр. при иконата на св. Богородица в манастира Савина в Черна Гора.
image. Such are the icons of the Theotokos Tricherousa at the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, St. George Not-Made-by-Hands at the Zograf Monastery, to name but a few.
Often, due to financial reasons, believers commissioned the production of just separate parts of the icon’s decoration, most frequently metalwork decoration for its frame or repousse covers for the saint’s nimbus and hands. An example of this are the partial covers of the Theotokos Portaitissa (Gatekeeper) with ten scenes of her miracles kept at the Rozhen Monastery.
Besides the precious covers for the miraculous icons, believers also offered the so-called votives (ex-votos, τάματα, αναθήματα). The votives are plates of precious metal (silver, gold or copper) pressed or cast by goldsmiths. Through these offerings believers pray for the intercession of the Christ, the Mother of God or a saint, to heal diseases and ailments, for health and prosperity of the children or the house, for safe journeys.
The votives are of different shapes: human likenesses (man, woman, child, baby) parts of the human body (heart, kidneys, feet, ears, eyes), figures of animals (horses, donkeys, cows, goats, oxen), or vehicles (carts and ships) and houses. At the base and at the upper part the of votives there are holes for the chains, ribbons or pins that are used to hang them on a chain in front of the miraculous icons. Another way of attaching the votives to the icon is to stick them directly with beeswax. The greater the power of the miraculous icon, the greater the concentration of votives on it, such is the case with the icon of the Theotokos at the Savina Monastery in Montenegro.
Personal jewelry could also be used as votives. When they couldn’t afford to commission a votive, people donated the jewels they already had – precious rings, crosses, bracelets, earrings, watches, gold coins. Such jewelry adorns the miraculous icons of the Mother of God with scenes from Lord’s Feasts in the church of the Dormition in Nessebar, of the Theotokos Golden Apple in the Dormition Church in Gorni Voden near Asenovgrad, etc.
За вотивни дарове са служили и личните скъпоценни принадлежности на вярващите. Когато не можели да си позволят тяхната изработка, те дарявали скъпоценности, които вече притежавали: сребърни и златни пръстени, синджири, висулки, кръстове, гривни, обеци, часовници, златни монети. С такива скъпоценности са окичени чудотворните икони св. Богородица със сцени от Господските празници в църквата „Успение Богородично“ в Несебър, св. Богородица „Златна ябълка“ в църквата „Успение Богородично“ в Горни Воден край Асеновград и др. Поради голямата почит към тях чудотворните икони обикновено са полагани за поклонение върху специално изработен за тях проскинитарий (προσκυνητάριо). Проскинитарият обикновено е от дърво, с богата резба, а по-рядко с изписана върху него украса. По-семплите проскинитарии са стенни, пригодени за закачване на стената в църквата, а посложно направените са четиристенни, завършващи с кувуклий, поставяни в наоса на храма. Наред с почитането на чудотворните икони, християните отдавали особена почит и към мощите. Те са първични реликви, тленни останки на даден светия или светица и се характеризират с нетленност, благоухание и чудотворна сила. Вярва се, че притежават божествена благодат, с каквато е свързан живота да дадения светец, благодарение на която изцеляват телесни и душевни болести и страдания, поради което са обект на почитание и поклонение. Мощите се съхраняват в ковчези (кивоти
Because of the great reverence given to miraculous icons, they are displayed for worship in the church on specially crafted proskynetaria (προσκυνητάρια). They are usually made of wood, richly decorated with carving and less often with painting. The simpler proskynetaria are mounted on the church walls, and the more elaborate have four walls and a kouvouklion (canopy) and are placed in the church naos.
Together with the miraculous icons, Christians venerated the holy relics of saints. They are primary relics, the mortal remains of a saint, and are characterized by incorruptibility, sweet fragrance, and miraculous power They are believed to possess the divine grace of the saint, through which they can heal bodily and mental illness and pain and are therefore subject to veneration and worship.
The holy relics are stored in caskets (chasses, box reliquaries), parts of them are kept in reliquaries made accordingly in the shape of skulls, hands, fingers, feet, or in the shape of domed temples. Reliquaries are usually made of precious metals and not that often of ivory and marble and can be seen as works of art in their own right. Generally, they are laid at the altar of a church or monastery and taken out for worship on the great Christian feasts.
MIRACULOUS ICONS AND HOLY RELICS IN MEDIEVAL BULGARIA
The veneration of icons became popular in the First Bulgarian Kingdom shortly after the conversion of the Bulgarians in 863. A Byzantine legend tells the story of the power of the holy images which became the reason for Knyaz Boris-Mihail (died 907) to adopt Christianity as an official state religion. In the royal palace in Pliska, the iconpainter Methodius was summoned and ordered to paint a mural that would instill fear among its spectators. The Byzantine artist painted the scene of the Last Judgment, which greatly moved the Bulgarian ruler, and in “the dead of night” he converted to Christianity. Soon after, the whole nation followed him.
приеме християнството като официална религия в държавата си. В княжеския дворец в Плиска бил повикан зографът Методий с поръчка да нарисува стенопис, който да внушава страх у съзерцаващите го. Художникът нарисувал сцената на Страшния съд, която силно развълнувала българския владетел
и в „дълбока нощ“ той приел христовата вяра. Скоро след това го последвал целият народ. От малкото артефакти от Първото българско царство, пощадени от времето и драматичните събития в
историята на България, се разбира, че изкуството на иконата е
било бързо усвоено от български майстори – зографи. За това свидетелстват останките от ателиета за керамични икони
край Преслав. Керамичната икона на св. Теодор, както и десетките фрагментарно запазени изображения с различна големина, са показателни за бързо развиващия се култ към
From the few extant artifacts from the First Bulgarian Kingdom, spared by the centuries, we can see that the art of the icon was quickly mastered by Bulgarian icon painters. This is evidenced by the remains of ceramic icon workshops near Preslav. The ceramic icon of St. Theodore, and the other fragmentarily preserved images are indicative of the rapidly evolving cult of the holy images among the Bulgarian population. The Chronicle of the Greek author John Skylitzes mentions that after taking Preslav in 971, John Tzimiskes took as a trophy a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, which he brought to Constantinople.
After the adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria, Knyaz Boris made a huge effort to provide the necessary liturgical books in a language understandable to his people. At the end of 885 he welcomed the disciples of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, who had survived after the Moravian mission, and provided them with the best possible conditions for literary work in the capital city of Pliska.
Clement, the future bishop of the Bulgarians, was sent to the newly annexed southwestern lands of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, with the task of preparing men of letters and priests to organize liturgy in Bulgarian language in all churches and parishes of the kingdom. The city of Ohrid, where he resided until his death in 916, became his episcopal residence.
In the 10th century the foundations of the organized monasticism in Bulgaria were laid when the hermit John of Rila (†946) founded a monastery in Rila Mountain and was soon joined by many followers. After his death, his holy relics began to work
по
части на Първото българско царство е бил изпратен Климент, бъдещият епископ на българите, със задачата да подготви грамотни хора и свещеници, за да се организира богослужение на български език във всички църкви и енории на царството. Неговата епископска резиденция става град Охрид, където пребивава до смъртта си през 916 г. През X в. се полагат основите на организираното монашество в България, когато отшелникът Йоан Рилски (†946 г.) основава манастир в Рила планина и към него скоро се присъединяват редица последователи. След смъртта му неговите мощи започват да извършват чудеса, а той е канонизиран за светец и се счита за покровител на българския народ. Днес в България са известни редица икони, които се смятат за чудотворни, като от тях представяме само десет – св. Богородица с частици от мощи на 32 светии в Рилския манастир, св. Богородица Влахерниотиса в Бачковския манастир, св. Богородица Троеручица в Троянския манастир, св. Богородица
Испания Fig. 6. Miniature depicting the translation of the miraculous icon from Preslav to Constantinople by Emperor John Tzimiskes. Madrid copy of the Chronicle of John Skylitzes (12th c.), National Library, Madrid
miracles and he was canonized as a saint and is considered the patron saint of the Bulgarian people.
Several icons which are considered miraculous are known in Bulgaria today. Here we shall present only ten of them: Mother of God with pieces of the holy relics of thirty-two Saints at the Rila Monastery, the Blachernitissa from the Bachkovo Monastery, the Tricherousa from the Troyan Monastery, the Portaitissa (Gatekeeper) with ten scenes of her miracles from the Rozhen Monastery, the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian from the Kuklen Monastery, the Mother of God Golden Apple from the Dormition Church in Gorni Voden, the Mother of God from the Annunciation Church in Asenovgrad, the Theotokos with scenes of the Lord’s feasts from the Dormition Church in Nessebar, the icons of Theotokos and of St. Marina from the Dormition Church in Varna. Most of the icons are of the Mother of God and only two are likenesses of other saints: the Unmercenaries Cosmas and
„Успение Богородично“ в Несебър, св. Богородица и св. Марина в църквата „Успение Богородично“ във
Damian and St. Marina. This is only natural because the Theotokos is considered the greatest protectress of believers. Her image is very popular in folk culture and according to the apocryphal texts, the Mother of God is a merciful advocate of men before God, a helper, sympathetic to human suffering. In addition to the icons, we shall present the holy relics of the most revered Bulgarian saint – John of Rila, kept at the Rila Monastery that he founded.
MIRACULOUS ICONS AND HOLY RELICS ON MOUNT ATHOS
Since the end of the 11th century, the monastic republic of Holy Mount Athos has become an increasingly important factor in the spiritual life of the Orthodox states and a spiritual center of Orthodoxy and Orthodox monasticism with its many monasteries and sketes. Beside Byzantium, almost all Orthodox states had their own monasteries: Georgian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Romanian, and Russian.
Within this multi-ethnic monastic brotherhood there has been a continuous exchange of legends and traditions associated with the countless relics that are kept there. The relics attracted large numbers of pilgrims who often ordered copies of the miraculous icons of the monasteries. Itinerant monks called taxidiotes (ταξιδιώτες), who traveled far from their monastery to gather alms, carrying with them some of the relics, also popularized the miraculous icons, as well as the related miracles, which continuously strengthened their cult.
поръчвали копия на съхраняваните там чудотворни икони. Пътуващите монаси, наричани още таксидиоти (ταξιδιώτες
популяризирали
засилвало
и
Athos is the place where the biggest number of miraculous icons are kept today. Almost all Athonite monasteries and sketes are in possession of such icons that still attract pilgrims from all over the world. Here we shall present only those icons that are somehow related with monasteries and icons on the territory of Bulgaria.
More specifically these are the icons of St. George NotMade-by-Hands, St. George the Arabian and St. George the Moldavian preserved at the Bulgarian Zograf Monastery
Света гора (Атон) е мястото, където до днес са се съхранили най-много чудотворни икони. Почти във всички атонски манастири и скитове такива икони привличат поклонници от цял свят. Тук представяме само тези, които по един или друг начин са свързани с манастири и икони на територията на България. По-конкретно това са съхраняваните в българския Зографски манастир „Св. Георги“ – св. Георги Неръкотворен, св. Георги Аравийски и св. Георги Молдавски, в манастира Ватопед – св. Богородица Виматариса (Олтарница), св. Богородица Парамития (Утешителка) и св. Богородица Есфагмени (Заклана) и поясът на св. Богородица, в Иверския манастир – св. Богородица Портаитиса (Вратарница) и в манастира Хилендар – св. Богородица Трихеруса (Троеручица). Болшинството от представените чудотворни икони от Света гора са на св. Богородица, тъй като култът є там е най-разпространен, а Света гора е наричана „Градината на св. Богородица“ (το περιβόλι της Παναγίας). Това се базира на преданието, според което св. Богородица и св. ев. Йоан плавали по море, но заради развила се буря се озовали на брега на Света гора, на мястото, където днес се издига Иверският манастир. Св. Богородица много го харесала и помолила Христос да є го подари. Тогава се чул глас, който є повелил, че от сега нататък Света гора Атон ще бъде нейна градина и рай, както и пристан за всички, които търсят спасение.
of St. George; the icons of Theotokos Vimatarisa (Altar icon), Theotokos Paramythia (of Consolation), Theotokos Esfagmeni (Stabbed), and the Girdle of the Mother of God from the Monastery of Vatopedi; the icon of Theotokos Portaitissa (Gatekeeper) from the Monastery of Iviron; the icon of Theotokos Tricherousa (With Three Hands) from the Monastery of Hilandar.
Most of the presented miraculous icons from the Holy Mount Athos are of the Theotokos since her cult is the most common there. Mount Athos is called “the Garden of the Mother of God” (το περιβόλι της Παναγίας) and this is based on the following legend: the Mother of God and St. John were caught in a storm near the shores of the Holy Mount Athos close to the site of today’s Iviron Monastery.
The Theotokos loved the place so much that she asked Christ to give it to her. Then a voice was heard telling her that from that moment on the Holy Mount of Athos would be her garden and paradise, and a haven for those seeking salvation.
MIRACULOUS ICONS AND HOLY RELICS IN OTHER BALKAN COUNTRIES
ЧУДОТВОРНИ ИКОНИ И СВЕТИ МОЩИ В ДРУГИ
The Balkans have been inhabited by different nations –Greeks, Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians, Albanians, and for centuries, with little exception, they have been united in their religion, the Orthodox Christianity inherited from the Byzantine Empire. Thus, thanks to the common Christian faith, they have preserved their religious and ethnic identity over the centuries. During this time, known as the postByzantine period (15th–19th centuries), the icon-painters continued to create icons and frescoes for the churches.
Believers often ordered copies of miraculous icons, that they had heard of from other people or from the itinerant monks who traveled with the miraculous relics to collect alms for the monasteries. The faith in the miraculous icons and relics has continued without interruption, and their presentation as part of the cultural tradition in the Balkans contributes
етноси са запазили своята религиозна и етническа идентичност през вековете. В това време, известно като поствизантисйки период (ХV–ХІХ в.), зографите продължават да творят икони и стенописи за храмовете. Вярващите често са поръчвали копия на чудотворни икони, разбрали за тях от народното предание или от монасите-таксидиоти, които пътували с чудотворните реликви да събират помощи за изпадналите в затруднено финансово положение манастири. Вярата в чудотворните икони и реликви продължила без прекъсване, а тяхното представяне като част от културната традиция на Балканите, допринася за осмислянето на общите културноисторически фактори, които ги свързват и които са помагали за съхраняването на тяхната идентичност. Тук са представени само три от най-известните чудотворни икони на Балканите, сред които св. Богородица в манастира Савина в Черна гора, св. Богородица Одигитрия в манастира Нямц в Румъния и св. Йоан Предтеча в Бигорския манастир в република Северна Македония. Освен иконите, са представени и едни от най-ценните съхранени реликви, мощите на св. Климент Охридски в църквата „Св. Пантелеймон“ в Охрид в република Северна Македония и в манастира „Св. Йоан Предтеча“ край Верия в Гърция, мощите на св. Симеон (Стефан Неман) и Стефан Първовенчани в манастира Студеница в Сърбия, както и мощите на св. Йоан Владимир от едноименния манастир край Елбасан в
to the understanding of the common cultural and historical factors that unite them and that have helped preserve their identity.
Here we shall present only three of the most famous miraculous icons in the Balkans: the Theotokos from the Savina Monastery in Montenegro, the Hodegetria from the Neamt Monastery in Romania, and St. John the Precursor from the Bigorski Monastery in the Republic of North Macedonia. In addition to the icons, some of the most valuable extant relics are presented: the holy relics of St. Clement of Ohrid kept at the Church of St. Panteleimon in Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia, and at the John the Precursor Monastery near Veria in Greece; the holy relics of St. Simeon (Stefan Nemanja) and Stefan the First-Crowned from the Monastery of Studenica, Serbia; and the holy relics of St. John Vladimir from the homonymous monastery near Elbasan, Albania.
HOLY RELICS IN MODERN SOCIETY
си феномените „икона“ и „мощи“.
In the dynamic age of postmodernism, pragmatism, consumerism, and digital virtuality one could hardly fit the phenomena of “icon” and “relics” into our stereotypes. We would hardly risk falling behind the universal rhythm to speculate on the supernatural, to lean on blind faith, to be engulfed in the transcendent, which is not defined by precise parameters, but is perceived with “spiritual eyes” in the words of St. John Chrysostom. At the same time, we live in an age where faith often fails to find an adequate expression. And it is this sense of “lack of spirituality”, of “need for a miracle” that provoked us to present the cult of some of the miraculous holy relics presently kept in Sofia: the holy relics of Sveti Kral (Holy King) from the Church of St. Nedelya, pieces of the relics of St. Clement of Ohrid, St. Gorazd, and St. Haralampius from the Church of the Seven Saints (Holy Heptarithmoi) and pieces of the holy relics of St. Clement of Ohrid preserved at the Faculty of Theology of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”.
Трудно би рискувал да изостане от всеобщия ритъм, за да размишлява над свръхестественото, да се опре на сляпата вяра, да се вглъби в трансцендентното, което не се дефинира с точни параметри, а се възприема с „духовни очи“ по думите на св. Йоан Златоуст. В същото време, живеем в една епоха, в която вярата често не намира адекватен израз. Усещането за „недостиг на духовност“ и за „потребност от чудо“ ни провокира да представим култа към някои от чудотворните мощи, които днес се намират в София: мощите на св. Крал в църквата „Св. Неделя“, както и частици от мощите на св. Климент Охридски, св. Горазд и св. Харалампий в църквата “Св. Седмочисленици“ и на св. Климент Охридски в Богословския факултет на Софийския унверситет „Св. Климент Охридски“. ОБЩА БИБЛИОГРАФИЯ: Филиповић 1936, 241–253. Grabar, 1975. Lightbown, 1979, 352–357. Cormack, 1988, 55–60. Καρδαμίτση-Αδάμη, 1996. Lidov, 2000, 47–57. Цветковић, 2001. Λεκάκης, 2001. Bakalova, 2001, 267–275. Byzantium 2004, 154–155, fig. 78 (A.Weyl Carr). Бакалова, 2006, 40–55. Петрова, 2008, 263–272. Вушева, 2010. Гергова, 2012. Μαντζαρίδης, Τσιγαρίδας, 2013. Трифонова, 2013–2014, 337–347. Бакалова, 2016. Мишкова и др., 2016. Ненковска и др., 2017. Миљковић, 2017. Gogola, 2018, 121–137.
REFERENCES: Филиповић 1936, 241–253. Grabar, 1975. Lightbown, 1979, 352–357. Cormack, 1988, 55–60. ΚαρδαμίτσηΑδάμη 1996. Lidov, 2000, 47–57. Цветковић 2001. Λεκάκης, 2001. Bakalova, 2001, 267–275. Byzantium 2004, 154–155, fig. 78 (A.Weyl Carr). Бакалова, 2006, 40–55. Петрова, 2008, 263–272. Вушева, 2010. Гергова, 2012. Μαντζαρίδης, Τσιγαρίδας 2013. Трифонова, 2013-2014, 337–347. Бакалова, 2016. Мишкова и др., 2016. Ненковска и др., 2017. Миљковић, 2017. Gogola, 2018, 121–137.
Fig. 6. Liturgical procession with the miraculous icon (c. 1865), mural from the façade of the Refectory, work of Zahari Zograf
17. Theotokos (detail), miraculous icon of Theotokos with scenes from the Lord’s feasts (end of 14th c.), Dormition Church (1893) in Nessebar
The
icon of Theotokos with scenes from the Lord’s feasts (end of 14th c.), Dormition Church (1893) in Nessebar
containing the skull of St. Clement of Ohrid (1818) (with open lid), St. John the Precursor Monastery near Veria, Greece
48. Coffin-chest with the holy relics of St. John Vladimir (early 19th c.), open, Albania
Dormition of St. John Vladimir, image on the inside of the coffin lid (early 19th c.) (detail), Albania
№ 1. В главната църква „Рождество Богородично“ (1837 г.) на Рилския манастир се съхранява чудотворната икона-реликварий св. Богородица с частици от мощи на 32 светии (XVII–XVIII в.), поставена върху проскинитарий в наоса. Иконата-реликварий е разграфена на 6 хоризонтални и вериткални полета, посредством сребърни пластини. По хоризонталните полета са изписани имената на светиите, чиито мощи са вградени в иконата, а вертикалните са украсени с емайл. В центъра е изобразена св. Богородица в иконографския тип Одигитрия, сигнирана с надписите „Елеуса“ (Милостива) и ПОМОЩН(ИЦА) И ЗАСТУПН(ИЦА) Ореолите на св. Богородица и на Христос са покрити със сребърни обкови, а обковът на рамката със сребърни пластини, украсени с релефни флорални мотиви. № 2. Мощите на св. Йоан Рилски са в ковчег-ракла пред иконостаса в главната църква. След смъртта на св. Йоан Рилски (†946 г.), когато мощите му започват да извършват чудеса, българският цар Петър (927–970 г.) заповядва да бъдат пренесени в Средец (дн. София). От там през 1183 г., по време на войната на Византия с маджарите, те са взети като трофей от унгарския цар Бела III (1148–1196 г.) и са пренесени в столицата му Гран (дн. Естергом). Впоследствие през 1186–7 г. са върнати в Сердика (дн. София), а през 1195 г. цар Йоан Асен I (1187–1196 г.) ги пренася в новата столица Търново. През 1469 г. султан Мурад II позволява на монасите от Рилската обител да върнат мощите в Рилския манастир, където се съхраняват и до днес. № 3. Връщане на мощите на св. Йоан Рилски от Търново в Рилския манастир през 1469 г., стенопис от метоха „Орлица“ (XIX в.), зограф Никола Образописов БИБЛИОГРАФИЯ: Kirin, 1998, 25–31. Гергова, 2002, 599–607. Бакалова, 2005, 193–228. Гергова, 2005, 60–72. Алексиев, 2008. Гергова, 2012. Бакалова, 2016. № 4. В главната църква „Успение Богородично“ (1603/4 г.) на Бачковския манастир се съхранява чудотворната икона св. Богородица „Влахерниотиса“ (втората половина на XI в. – началото на XII в.), поставена за поклонение върху проскинитарий в дясната част на наоса. Св. Богородица е изобразена в иконографския тип Гликофилуса (Сладкоцелувание), с допряна глава до бузата на Христос, когото придържа с лявата ръка, а дясната е поставила пред гърдите си. Младенецът обгръща майка си с десницата, а лява ръка е поставил пред
№ 1. The miraculous reliquary icon of the Mother of God with pieces of the holy relics of thirty-two Saints (17th–18th c.) is displayed on a proskynetarion in the naos of the main church of the Nativity of the Theotokos (1837) at the Rila Monastery. The reliquary icon is divided into 6 horizontal and 6 vertical boxes through silver plates. The names of the saints whose relics are integrated in the icon are inscribed on the horizontal plates, while the vertical are decorated with enamel. The Theotokos of the iconographic type of Hodegetria, is depicted in the center of the icon. It is inscribed as Eleousa (Showing Mercy) and ПОМОЩН(ИЦА) И ЗАСТУПН(ИЦА) (Helper and Patron). The halos of the Mother of God and of the Child are covered with silver revetment and the whole icon is framed in silver with floral decoration in relief.
№ 2. The holy relics of St. John of Rila are laid in a casket in front of the iconostasis in the main church. After the death of St. John of Rila (†946), when his relics started to work miracles Bulgarian King Peter (927–970) ordered that they be translated to Sredets (today Sofia). In 1183, during Byzantium’s war with the Magyars, Hungarian King Bela III took St. John’s relics from Sofia as a trophy and transported them to his capital city of Gran (Esztergom). Later, in 1186–7 the relics were taken back to Serdika and in 1195 Tsar Ivan Asen I (1187–1196) translated them to Tarnovo, the new capital city of the second Bulgarian Kingdom. In 1469 Sultan Murad II gave permission to the Rila monks to translate the relics back to the Rila Monastery, where they are treasured to this day.
№ 3. Return of the holy relics of St. John of Rila from Tarnovo to the Rila Monastery in 1469, mural from Orlitsa Cloister (19th c.), icon-painter Nikola Obrazopisov
REFERENCES: Kirin, 1998, 25–31. Гергова, 2002, 599–607. Бакалова, 2005, 193–228. Гергова, 2005, 60–72. Алексиев, 2008. Гергова, 2012. Бакалова, 2016.
№ 4. The miraculous icon of Theotokos Blachernitissa (second half of the 11th century – beginning of 12th century), fully covered with a silver repousse with gilding, is kept at Bachkovo Monastery’s main church of the Dormition (1603/4). It is displayed on a proskynetarion in the right part of the naos. The icon is of the iconographic type of the Glykophiluosa (Sweet-kissing). Mother is touching her face to the cheek of the Child, embracing him with her left arm, her right hand up to her bosom. Child embraces his mother with his right arm, his left hand rested on her bosom.
№ 5. Today the icon is covered with a silver and gilt revetment, which dates from two different periods (1311 and 1819). The earlier cover, where the Theotokos is inscribed as Blachernitissa was commissioned by the Georgian brothers Athanasius and Okropir, sons of Ignatius, as stated in the donor’s inscription. The later cover, which alters the original iconography, was donated by Petko hadji Demetriou in 1819, as we can see from the donor’s inscription in Greek.
№ 6. Liturgical procession with the miraculous icon (c. 1865), mural from the façade of the Refectory, work of Zahari Zograf
БИБЛИОГРАФИЯ
REFERENCES
Bakalova 1993–1994: E. Bakalova, „Zwei Ikonen der Muttergottes Portaitissa (von Iviron) in Bulgarien“, Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας πέρ Δ΄ τόμ ΙΖ΄ (1993–1994), 347–358.
Bakalova, 2001: E. Bakalova, „La vénération des icônes miraculeuses en Bulgarie aspects historiques et contemporaine d’un pèlerinage“, Ethnologie francaise 31 (2001), 267–275.
Bentchev, 1993: I. Bentchev, „Die „Dreihändige’’ Gottesmutterikone im Hilandar – Kloster auf Athos“, Hermeneia, Zeitschrift fűr ostkirchliche Kunst 1993, 46–52.
Byzantium 2004: Byzantium. Faith and Power (1261–1557) ed. H. C. Evans, New York 2004.
Chatzdoulis, 2016: G. Chatzdoulis, „Η λειψανοθήκη της κάρας του αγίου Κλήμη, αρχιεπισκόπου Αχρίδας από τη μονή του Τιμίου Προδρόμου (Σκήτη Βεροίας)“ Konštаntinove listy 9/1 (2016), 64–90.
Chrissochoidis, 2005: Cr. Chrissochoidis, „The Portaitissa Icon at the Iveron Monastery and the Cult of the Virgin in Mount Athos“, Images of the Mother of God. Perceptions of the Theotokos in Byzantium M. Vassilaki (ed.), Norfolk 2005, 133–141.
Cormack, 1988: R. Cormack, „Miraculous Icons in Byzantium and Their Powers“, Аrte Cristiana 76 (1988), 55–60.
Demori-Staničić, 1994: Z. Demori-Staničić, „Ikone Bogorodice Skopiotise u Dalmaciji“, Prilozi povijesti umjetnosti u Dalmaciji 34 (1994), 327–328.
Diaconu, 2010: L. Diaconu, Icoаna bizantină a Maicii Domnului de la Mănăstirea Neamț Consideraţii istorice, artistice şi teologice Iaşi 2010.
Drobnjaković, 1939: B. Drobnjaković, „Manastir Savina u Boki Kotorskoj i ikona Bogomatere Čudotvorke“, Pravda 8, 9, 10 and 11 April 1939.
Enev, 1994: M. Enev, Mount Athos, Zograf Monastery, Sofia 1994.
Efremov, 2002: A. Efremov, Icoane românești, București 2002.
Giakoumis, 2017: K. Giakoumis, „The Political Life of St John Vladmir’s Relics“, The 1000 Anniversary of St John Vladimir Podgorica 2017, 207–226.
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