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Artistic Heritage column continues presenting the paintings of the Refectory Church of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

Today we will speak about the medallions located on the arches of the exedras of the Refectory Church. They are adorned with the faces of sixteen Saints. The work was done by the artist Ivan Izhakevych. The names of most of the Saints resonate with the names of the Metropolitans that headed Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra in the 19th century. The hermit Ioannucius the Great, for example, was named after Metropolitan Ioannicius (Rudniev).

Depicting Saint Ioannicius, Ivan Izhakevych was, probably, guided by “The Life of Our Reverend Father Ioannicius the Great” written by Metropolitan Dimitry of Rostov. The imaginary portrait in the fresco painting of the Refectory Church seems to summarize various impressions that the artist could feel after reading the Life of the Saint. An ascetic champion who lived in the 8th century, in the era of iconoclasm, is depicted as an old gray-haired man, rather strong in complexion: his shoulders are so wide that they barely fit the borders of the medallion. The strength of the figure is emphasized by the black color of the clothes. The Saint’s face is dried by fasting and a long struggle with his own passions caused by devilish temptations, as the Life of the Saint says. A simple ascetic’s chiton can symbolize the monastic clothing, which the Saint wore after taking orders in the monastery. According to the hagiography, Ioannicius had the gift of far-sightedness. Aiming to underline this rare human quality in the picturesque interpretation of the Saint’s image, Ivan Izhakevych depicted Ioannicius with his pointer finger raised. This, as our imagination might suggest, shows that the Saint menacingly warns, as befits a Prophet. The stern look of his huge eyes penetrates into the soul and strikes it through.

Caption to the illustration:

Ivan Izhakevych. Composition “Saint Ioannicius the Great”. Arch of the exedra of the Refectory Church. 1905

The text was prepared by Olena Pitateleva, the senior research worker

Research Division for the study of the artistic heritage of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve

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