Warrior saints at Nerezi - the selection of figures and other remarks on their iconography

Abstract

The paper deals with the figures of warrior saints in the nave of the Church of St. Panteleimon in Nerezi. Within this group of saints, in addition to the most famous, easily recognizable ones, there are also those warriors on the identity of which scholars have expressed different opinions. Based on the iconographic analysis, the depictions of the saints in question are identified in the article. The figures of some military saints in Nerezi are also analyzed in the broader context of their representation in the art of the Byzantine cultural sphere. In addition to the above, attention is paid to the specific way of grouping the Nerezi warriors, as well as to two different iconographic models of depicting its members.

Keywords

• nerezi
• warrior saints
• iconography
• byzantine art
• wall painting
• 12th century