Unfortunately I did not have enough time to shoot some good pictures in the exonarthex of Koutloumousiou on October 3th 2011. Here are some of them, starting with two still shots from a video my friend Jitze took:
Shooting pictures in the Exonarthex (thanks to Jitze)
Agiou Sylvestro (?) – maybe the Pope who was in office from 314 – 335 and who got the Tiara from Constantine, because he helped curing the Byzantine emperor from lepra.
The multiplication of the loaves (bread) as in Matthew 14:13-21. (thanks Bertinos)
Text above the door: 1744
In the lower panel demons and monsters, above (from left to right) Saints, John the Forerunner (?) in the middle, and three Patriarchs, The Panaghia with archangels in a garden (surrounded by walls).
Bertinos added this informatin: The upper part of the picture with demons and angels shows Paradise. Apart from the Panagia, you can see the good thief/murderer who was crucified with Christ, and to whom Christ said that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:43). The angel at the gate is the “Cherubim with the Flaming Sword” from Genesis 3:24. The three old men are indeed the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with the souls of the righteous in their bosom (see Luke 16:22 e.a.), an image that you might know from the negro spiritual “Rock My Soul In The Bosom of Abraham” or even Elvis Presley.
In Lavra the same image can be found:
Lavra: the same image
The ceiling from a drome: the Pantocrator in a shining sphere, dressed in white and with a bag, surrounded by stars and Saints. This is what Bertinos added (thanks!): The dome with the Pantocrator refers to the Apocalypse, the bag being the universe which angels will roll up like a scroll at the end of times (Apocalypse 6:14).
Therefore, it seems that the strange snow on the mountains refers to the bloody rains and hail in chapter 8,7 of the Apocalypse and which will devaste the earth.
Another ceiling from a drome: different kind of animals, including a Centauer.
Detail from last picture
Left part of the same ceiling: look at the strange snow falling on mountains.
Blurred detail from the last picture: snow falling on mountains
Third picture of the same drome, this time with Byzantine officials dressed in fine clothes.
Blurred detail: Byzantine officials dressed in fine clothes.
The ceiling of the third drome (partly damaged): the Panaghia and the child in the centre, surrounded by Saints.
Door in the exonarthex with Gabriel and and Saint on a pillar on the right
The camara points to the right: Saints with texts and Agiou Charalammes (Charalambos ?) on the right
Another drome with fresco’s, with Assumption scenes on the left. Bertinos added: the left part represents the Great Feast of Theophany (January 6th), when St. John baptised Christ in the River Jordan, while the right part depicts the Feast of the Lifegiving Fount/Well (celebrated on the first Friday after Easter/Pascha) and the City of Constantinople.
As I told you, I did not have a lot of time to take some good pictures, I hope you like the ones of Karakalou and Ag. Anna better.
Wim, 25/2 (updated 25/3/2015)
(next time we will go to Iviron)
Dear Wim,
The pictures are indeed somewhat blurred, which may explain some confusions.
The miracle scene doens’t depict the Wedding at Cana, but the multiplication of the loaves (bread) as in Matthew 14:13-21 (e.a.).
The upper part of the picture with demons and angels shows Paradise. Apart from the Panagia, you can see the good thief/murderer who was crucified with Christ, and to whom Christ said that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:43). The angel at the gate is the “Cherubim with the Flaming Sword” from Genesis 3:24. The three old men are indeed the patriarchs (aartsvaders) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with the souls of the righteous in their bosom (see Luke 16:22 e.a.), an image that you might know from the negro spiritual “Rock My Soul In The Bosom of Abraham” or even Elvis Presley.
The dome with the Pantocrator refers to the Apocalypse, the bag being the universe which angels will roll up like a scroll at the end of times (Apocalypse 6:14).
Therefore, it seems that the strange snow on the mountains refers to the bloody rains and hail in chapter 8,7 of the Apocalypse and which will devaste the earth.
As for the last dome: the left part represents the Great Feast of Theophany (January 6th), when St. John baptised Christ in the River Jordan, while the right part depicts the Feast of the Lifegiving Fount/Well (celebrated on the first Friday after Easter/Pascha) and the City of Constantinople.
I’m looking forward to your pictures of Karakallou!
The dome with the Pantocrator refers to the Apocalypse, the bag being the universe which angels will roll up like a scroll at the end of times (Apocalypse 6:14).
Therefore, it seems that the strange snow on the mountains refers to the bloody rains and hail in chapter 8,7 of the Apocalypse and which will devaste the earth.
As for the last dome: the left part represents the Great Feast of Theophany (January 6th), when St. John baptised Christ in the River Jordan, while the right part depicts the Feast of the Lifegiving Fount/Well (celebrated on the first Friday after Easter/Pascha) and the City of Constantinople.
I’m looking forward to your pictures of Karakallou!
Dear Wim,
The pictures are indeed somewhat blurred, which may explain some confusions.
The miracle scene doens’t depict the Wedding at Cana, but the multiplication of the loaves (bread) as in Matthew 14:13-21 (e.a.).
The upper part of the picture with demons and angels shows Paradise. Apart from the Panagia, you can see the good thief/murderer who was crucified with Christ, and to whom Christ said that he would be with Him in paradise (Luke 23:43). The angel at the gate is the “Cherubim with the Flaming Sword” from Genesis 3:24. The three old men are indeed the patriarchs (aartsvaders) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with the souls of the righteous in their bosom (see Luke 16:22 e.a.), an image that you might know from the negro spiritual “Rock My Soul In The Bosom of Abraham” or even Elvis Presley.