Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, Christmas Issue Fresco Paintings, Republic of Cyprus

Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth, Christmas Issue Fresco Paintings, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

The fresco depicted on this stamp is from the Church of the Holy Cross in the village of Pelendri. The original church dates from the 12th century with extensions to the North added in the 14th century and to the South most likely in the 16th century. In the added North side there is a painted Lusignan coat-of-arms part of which is missing. It is known that John de Lusignan, Prince of Antioch and brother of King Peter I of Cyprus was Lord of the Casale of Pelendri as early as 11th March 1353 his 14th century fresco "The Embracing of the Mother of God and Elizabeth" forms part of fourteen compositions from the apocryphal story of the Virgin Mary as painted in the western vault and lunette of the church. The painter depicts the two women embracing with John, an embryo in Elizabeth's womb bowing to express his respect to Jesus who is an embryo in the Virgin Mary's womb. The painter is thus illustrating the narration of St. Luke the Evangelist regarding the visitation of the Virgin Mary to her relative Elizabeth. The depiction of the Babes painted on the bellies of the two women is a rare detail in Byzantine paintings . (See: The Painted Churches of Cyprus pp.223-230).

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology

9th November 1992

Designer: A. Malecos

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Image

1992-CHRISTMAS-7C

35.160417, 33.346556

Alex Matsoukis, Athens