Category: Bulgaria

This icon is also known as the Feast of Abraham.
The original icon was donated by Abbot Simion of the Holy Trinity Monastery near Veliko Turnovo.
This archetypal icon was painted in 1708 by the painters Kosta and Tsonyo.
Size: 28 x 37 cm. ●

The original was a mosaic icon, which I photographed in a monastery church along the road to Sophia.
Here it is a beautifully embellished tempera icon with the theme ‘Mother of God gesturing to the Christ Child’

Size: ca. 28 x 35 cm ●

This icon originates from the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi and depicts the creation of Adam in the top right-hand corner. Below it, Adam is shown naming the various animals.
It is a unique icon depicting animals which do not exist in the real world.
The edges are beautifully decorated with gold assist.

Size: 29 x 35 cm. ●

This icon forms part of the King’s doors in the Saint Charalambios Chapel in the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi. It is a simply painted icon in bright colours on a dark blue background, where the Angel Gabriel and Mary are depicted on a cloud.
The icon also shows the year in which the doors were painted.

Size: 29 x 37 cm. ●

This icon from the Church of the Nativity in Arbanassi is a transitional work in style and expression. The painter was probably familiar with the aesthetic West European Renaissance, which followed the Byzantine tradition.
The background has an unusual form and scenes are used that took place in different times in history.
The painter was clearly highly skilled in painting icons, softening the customary features of the traditional likeness while preserving the facial expressions.

Size: 28 x 35 cm. ●

Christ is in the centre in half-figure, his right hand extending a blessing and his left hand holding an open bible with the text: John 8:12, John 11:25-26 and John 12:36. “I am the light of the world”, “he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die”, “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.”

Size 20 x 25 cm (7.9 x 9.8 inches) ●