Saint Nikephoros
Dublin Core
Title
Saint Nikephoros
Subject
Description
Saint Nikephoros, is the figure appearing, on the lower zone of the soffit of the northern arch of the central bay.
His insignia, declare him as a bishop, and according to his representation as an elder man, is recognised as Saint Nikephoros, the iconophile patriarch.
Nikephoros, along with Simeon Stilitis and Onouphrios who are depicted on the left, were painted at a later date, in the sixteenth century. Underneath the layer of 1631 and Nikephoros, though, exists the twelfth century layer and through a patch on his lower part it is easy to discern that another saint is depicted. His fine white lines cuff simulate those of saint Niketas on the western side of the same respond. Based on that it can be proposed that this saint was, also, a courtly martyr.
The saint is of particular interest. Nikephoros the iconophile saint was not among the popular ones but Nikephoros is the declared donor of the church. Therefore a reasonable explanation for the depiction of Saint Nikephoros and his late repainting is his connection with the patron of the church. Regarding the saint of the lower layer, the scholars believe that another Saint Nikephoros, not the iconophile bishop, was depicted there. One of them is Saint Nikephoros the martyr, who martyred in Antioch. He was usually portrayed as a courtly martyr with long tunic and chlamys. Thus this Nikephoros may be depicted underneath the homonymous bishop.
Lastly, a successful spatial planning of the frescoes’ selection is Nikephoros and Nicholas, the two saints standing side by side, and their connection to the two important figures of the church, the donor Nikephoros and the ktetor, Nicholas.
His insignia, declare him as a bishop, and according to his representation as an elder man, is recognised as Saint Nikephoros, the iconophile patriarch.
Nikephoros, along with Simeon Stilitis and Onouphrios who are depicted on the left, were painted at a later date, in the sixteenth century. Underneath the layer of 1631 and Nikephoros, though, exists the twelfth century layer and through a patch on his lower part it is easy to discern that another saint is depicted. His fine white lines cuff simulate those of saint Niketas on the western side of the same respond. Based on that it can be proposed that this saint was, also, a courtly martyr.
The saint is of particular interest. Nikephoros the iconophile saint was not among the popular ones but Nikephoros is the declared donor of the church. Therefore a reasonable explanation for the depiction of Saint Nikephoros and his late repainting is his connection with the patron of the church. Regarding the saint of the lower layer, the scholars believe that another Saint Nikephoros, not the iconophile bishop, was depicted there. One of them is Saint Nikephoros the martyr, who martyred in Antioch. He was usually portrayed as a courtly martyr with long tunic and chlamys. Thus this Nikephoros may be depicted underneath the homonymous bishop.
Lastly, a successful spatial planning of the frescoes’ selection is Nikephoros and Nicholas, the two saints standing side by side, and their connection to the two important figures of the church, the donor Nikephoros and the ktetor, Nicholas.
Creator
Source
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology
Publisher
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology
Library of Cyprus University of Technology
Date
Contributor
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology
Rights
Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.
Relation
https://apsida.cut.ac.cy/items/show/45036
Format
JPG, MP3
Language
en
Type
Identifier
Figure-044
Coverage
35.046355, 32.973431
Files
Collection
Citation
Ioannides, Marinos, “Saint Nikephoros,” Αψίδα, accessed January 31, 2025, https://apsida.cut.ac.cy/items/show/45256.