DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43337#0380
CHAPTER TWO. THE ICONOGRAPHIC PROGRAMME | 377
3. The naos: the arms
of the domed cross
The dominant theme in the domed space, as we have suggested, was
the glorification of the Pantocrator. In the altar apse the celestial litur-
gy is at the centre of attention. The arms of the domed cross contain
the main events in the History of Salvation. In the north and south
arms, in accordance with tradition, extends the Mariological cycle,
which disclosed the prehistory of the Incarnation, and the Christolog-
ical cycle in which scenes of the great festivals and of Christ’s Passion
and Resurrection were depicted. The large compositions depicting the
«Nativity of the Virgin» and the «Nativity of Christ» face one another
in the north and south lunettes, thereby emphasising their intercon-
nection and enabling their visual comparison. The west arm contained
scenes of the events that followed Christs Ascension and was almost
entirely filled with the vast composition of the «Last Judgement».
The lost composition of the cupola played an important role in link-
ing these sequences together. If, as seems highly likely, it contained
a depiction of the «Ascension» this would have provided a link be-
tween the scenes in all three arms. As the Acts of the Apostles espe-
cially emphasize, the Ascension not only marked the end of Christ’s
earthly presence but was a prologue to the Second Coming (Acts 1:11).
Furthermore, a depiction of the Ascension would also have established
the link between these scenes and the celestial liturgy in the sanctuary
apse since this composition illustrated, more vividly than all the oth-
ers, the indivisibility of the earthly and heavenly existence of Christ.
The iconographic programme of the cross arms also includes numer-
ous holy monks who, as it were, supplement the thematic murals. They
acted as intermediaries for those worshipping in the church: they had
attained sainthood and showed the surest path to salvation.
THE VIRGIN CYCLE
This cycle is made up of five scenes located around the north lunette.
Three small compositions telling the story of Joachim and Anne are to
be found immediately beneath the «Nativity of the Virgin». «The Pre-
3. The naos: the arms
of the domed cross
The dominant theme in the domed space, as we have suggested, was
the glorification of the Pantocrator. In the altar apse the celestial litur-
gy is at the centre of attention. The arms of the domed cross contain
the main events in the History of Salvation. In the north and south
arms, in accordance with tradition, extends the Mariological cycle,
which disclosed the prehistory of the Incarnation, and the Christolog-
ical cycle in which scenes of the great festivals and of Christ’s Passion
and Resurrection were depicted. The large compositions depicting the
«Nativity of the Virgin» and the «Nativity of Christ» face one another
in the north and south lunettes, thereby emphasising their intercon-
nection and enabling their visual comparison. The west arm contained
scenes of the events that followed Christs Ascension and was almost
entirely filled with the vast composition of the «Last Judgement».
The lost composition of the cupola played an important role in link-
ing these sequences together. If, as seems highly likely, it contained
a depiction of the «Ascension» this would have provided a link be-
tween the scenes in all three arms. As the Acts of the Apostles espe-
cially emphasize, the Ascension not only marked the end of Christ’s
earthly presence but was a prologue to the Second Coming (Acts 1:11).
Furthermore, a depiction of the Ascension would also have established
the link between these scenes and the celestial liturgy in the sanctuary
apse since this composition illustrated, more vividly than all the oth-
ers, the indivisibility of the earthly and heavenly existence of Christ.
The iconographic programme of the cross arms also includes numer-
ous holy monks who, as it were, supplement the thematic murals. They
acted as intermediaries for those worshipping in the church: they had
attained sainthood and showed the surest path to salvation.
THE VIRGIN CYCLE
This cycle is made up of five scenes located around the north lunette.
Three small compositions telling the story of Joachim and Anne are to
be found immediately beneath the «Nativity of the Virgin». «The Pre-