In this post we take a closer look at the interior of the Chapel of Saint Georgios.
But first I can share some photos from nine years ago, taken in 2005 by monk T., who today sent me the photos he took at this location (thank you very much!).
Below are three photo’s I made in the exo-narthex:
a wood stovekitchen items and an icon of St George and the Dragona heavy grill in a window to the church
The church is build in 1850 and has an interior that is common in most East European churches on Athos, that means the walls are white and without any murals.
2023: the dome of the chapel with remnants of blue paint and golden stars.2023: the interior of the church with white walls, towards the exit door, with our Bulgarian friend Metodi (on the right) explaining the things we see in English
The colorful iconostasis of the chapel. In the photos I show you below are – I think – three types of painting skills represented. The first ones are is the most professional or highly skilled icons, just next to mid-entrance in the iconostasis.
To the right of the door: the Lord Jesus and St GeorgiosTo the left: the Panaghia with the Child Jesus and two Saints: Agios Ioannis Prodromos and Agios Nicolaos
The second type of paintings can be found on the doors in the middle of the iconostasis, with images that represent a more folk way of painting, and on an icon that hangs on the wall.
The more primitive style of painting on the door of the iconostasisA row of Saints on the top level of the iconostasis with a large Cross on top.On top of the doors in the middle:a small painting of a Holy SaintThe icon of the Archangel Gabriel: also a more primitive painting style
This last type of painting I found in this Chapel is the most surprising: here the artist took the liberty of painting in a free style, that is, he used his imagination to paint different types of flowers to fill some panels in the iconostasis. It is not very common to see this kind of free art on Athos, but here in this chapel is an unique example.
A prayer chair in the corner, with cleaning supplies and a fire extinguisherA standard to place books onDifferent paintings and an almost faded etching on the wall, The almost faded etching in Bulgarian, for me almost impossible to translate, although I could read that the text is about some kind of Patriarch. Part of the text is in calligraphy.
Later that evening we returned to the monastery, very pleased that mr Metodi invited us to visit this special location on Athos and I am proud to present the images (for the first time on the internet?).
The entrance to the monastery
And thanks to Monk T who contributed to this post with his fine and professional pictures from 9 years ago.
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