St. Panteleimon Church (Nerezi)
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The Church of St. Pantaleon ( Macedonian : Црква Свети Пантелејмон ) in Gorno Nerezi near Skopje is one of the oldest and most important churches in North Macedonia and is a good example of a Byzantine cross- domed church from the Comnenian period. It is dedicated to St. Panteleimon , the patron saint of doctors.
history
Built by Prince Alexios Angelos Komnenos , it was completed in 1164. The donor's inscription is above the main portal:
" The church of the holy and famous martyr Pantaleon was beautifully built with the help of Prince Alexios Komnenos, son of Theodora, who was born in purple, in the ninth month on the 13th day 1164. "
architecture
The type of construction involved is a cross-domed church with a narthex attached to the west .
Painting
Particularly worth seeing are frescoes painted around 1164.
Freeze cycle
The naos of the church is painted with a cycle of pictures. It includes the birth of Christ , presentation in the temple , the transfiguration , the raising of Lazarus , entry into Jerusalem , crucifixion , descent from the cross and lamentation .
In the apse there is a depiction of the apostle communion under a field of Mary .
Saints
Below the festival images, saints of the Eastern Church are depicted, including Arsenius of Scete , John of Damascus , Joseph the Hymnographer , Macarius the Egyptians , Paulus of Thebes , Theophanes Graptos and Theodor Studites as well as other holy monks and scholars. But some holy warriors are also represented in Byzantine armor.
painter
The unknown painter is referred to as the "predecessor of Giotto di Bondones and Cimabues " because the bodies are convincingly modeled and the human emotions are expressed in an extremely sensitive and realistic manner. This is particularly evident in the Lamentation of Christ . In addition to the life and passion of Christ, parts of the life of Mary as well as church princes and saints are represented.
The chancel is closed by a stone iconostasis , which also dates from the 12th century. The patron saint of the church, Panteleimon (Pantaleon), is represented in an icon frame belonging to the Ikonastasis with his attributes as a doctor and healer.
literature
- Kosta Balabanov: St. Pantelejmon. Skopje 1989.
- Vojislav J. Djurić: Nerezi. In: Lexicon of the Middle Ages. Stuttgart / Weimar 1999.
- Ida Sinkević: The Church of St. Panteleimon at Nerezi. Architecture, programs, patronage . Reichert, Wiesbaden 2000, ISBN 3-89500-129-5 .
Web links
Coordinates: 41 ° 58 ′ 37 ″ N , 21 ° 22 ′ 28 ″ E