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Below is a list of distinguishable paintings on the columns, first in the south (to the right of the entrance), and then in the north (left) nave.
South nave columns
Right (outer) row
1st column
- Apostle James Zebedee, James the Elder - the apostle of Jesus Christ, mentioned in the New Testament. Born in Palestine, was killed in 44 in Jerusalem. Elder brother of John the Theologian. In literature, James of Zebedee is also often referred to as James the Elder to distinguish him from the apostle James the Alpheus and James, "the brother of the Lord" or James the Younger.
2nd column
- Apostle Bartholomew, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, is mentioned in the New Testament. According to legend, Bartholomew, together with Philip, preached in the cities of Asia Minor, especially in connection with the name of the Apostle Bartholomew, the city of Hierapolis is mentioned. Tradition also informs about his trip to India and preaching in Armenia. According to legend, at the instigation of the pagan priests, the brother of the Armenian king Astyages "grabbed the holy apostle in the city of Alban." Bartholomew was crucified upside down, but he continued his sermon, then he was taken down from the cross, skinned, and then beheaded.
5th column
- Mother of God with the Christ Child and those who are to come. This type of icon is called Tenderness (Greek Eleusa). The Mother of God is depicted with the Christ Child sitting on Her arm and pressing her cheek against Her cheek. On the icons of the Theotokos Eleusa, there is no distance between Mary (the symbol and ideal of the human race) and God the Son, their love is boundless. Below the icon are figures, a kneeling man and two women.
- On the same column, from the opposite (eastern) side, Blaise of Sebaste (d. c. † 316), a Christian saint, revered as a holy martyr, bishop of the city of Sebastia in the Roman province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor (now Sivas) is depicted. Blasius was beheaded for his faith during the persecution under the emperor Diocletian. Armenian name saint - Barseh, also known as St. Blaise, Bishop of Sebastia. Revered in the Orthodox and Catholic churches.
6th column
- St. Anna with the baby Mary - mother of the Virgin, grandmother of Jesus Christ (mother of God), wife of St. Joachim, who miraculously gave birth to a daughter after many years of a childless marriage.
- Saint Leo I the Great (440-461) - Pope of Rome. He became famous for his active struggle against the Monophysite heresy. Anciently revered in Orthodox Church 18th of Febuary. The Roman Catholic Church, until 1971, venerated him on April 11th. After the memorial day is celebrated on November 10th.
7th column
- St. Margaret of Antioch (Catholic), St. Marina (Orthodox) is a Christian virgin, revered as a great martyr. It suffered during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. The crusader fortress on was named after her, on the site of which there is now a lighthouse. Revered in the Orthodox and Catholic churches.
11th column
- Our Lady Hodegetria (Guidebook). One of the most common types of images of the Mother of God with the baby Jesus. The lad-Christ sits in the arms of the Virgin, right hand he blesses, and with his left he holds a scroll.
Left (inner) row
1st column
- Theodosius the Great - Christian saint, founder in Palestine. Revered in the face of the saints, the memory in the Orthodox Church takes place on January 11 (according to the Julian calendar), in catholic church January 11th.
2nd column
3rd column
- (+ 34), an apostle out of 70, a first martyr, an archdeacon, was the eldest of the seven deacons appointed by the apostles, which is why he is called an archdeacon.
4th column
- Canute IV the Saint, King of Denmark (1043–86), patron saint of Denmark. Revered in the Catholic and Lutheran churches.
5th column
- Olaf the Holy - King of Norway, who converted his people to Christianity, died in the Battle of Stiklastal in 1030. One of the most revered common Christian saints in Scandinavia (also revered in Rus'). The glorification of Olaf as a saint took place in Norway on August 3, 1031 (Comm. 29 July).
6th column
- Vincent of Saragossa († 304) (Vincent of Augustopolis, Vincent the Martyr, Vincent the Deacon) - early Christian martyr, saint universal church, who suffered for faith in Christ during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Diocletian. It is revered by the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches.
7th column
8th column
- Prophet Elijah with two ravens is the only one Old Testament prophet, presented on the columns of the Basilica of the Nativity.
9th column
- , an early Christian saint, an Egyptian hermit of the 4th century, named after him in, built on the site.
10th column
- St. Fuska † 250, martyr from Ravenna.
11th column
- St. Margaret of Antioch (Catholic), St. Marina (Orthodox) - see above.
North nave columns
Right (inner) row
1st column
- St. Macarius the Great (Egyptian) (c. 300-391), Christian saint, hermit, revered as a saint, author of spiritual conversations. Memory is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on January 19 (according to the Julian calendar), in the Catholic Church on January 15.
2nd column
- Anthony the Great, reverend (about 251 - 356) - early Christian ascetic and hermit, founder of hermit monasticism. Memorial Day - January 30 (January 17, old style).
3rd column
- Euthymius the Great(c. 377–473) - Christian saint, hieromonk. Along with Anthony the Great, Macarius the Great and Pachomius the Great, Euthymius is considered a pillar of hermitage and the founder of the monastic community. It is revered by Orthodox (January 20 according to the Julian calendar) and Catholics (January 20).
4th column
- St. George the Victorious.
5th column
- St. Leonard.
6th and 7th columns
- Saints Cosmas and Damian - brothers, unmercenary saints, healers and miracle workers, according to church tradition presumably lived in the second half of the III-early IV centuries. They were killed in the III century out of envy by a pagan doctor.
8th column
- St. Catald - (about 400-480) - a Catholic saint (Comm. 10 May) of Irish origin, was a friend of St. Patrick. visited Palestine in the 7th century.
9th column
- Our Lady of the Milk (Galaktotrofusa) - the Mother of God, depicted breastfeeding the Infant Jesus. At present, Her image is almost indistinguishable.
10th column
11th column
- crucifixion.
Photo gallery
Helpful information
Painted columns of the Basilica of the Nativity
Cost of visiting
for free
Address and contacts
Church of the Nativity, Yaselnaya Square, Bethlehem
The Church of the Nativity is divided into 5 naves by 44 columns of Bethlehem polished pink limestone. Most of the columns were taken from the original basilica.
On 30 there are images of saints, the Mother of God and Jesus Christ.
The columns are crowned with capitals of the Corinthian order.
There are also images on 4 columns of the Katalikon, to the right of the iconostasis of the Basilica of the Nativity.
Most of the images were made by one artist after 1150, several murals belong to a later time.
The paintings were made with paints mixed with melted wax on stone and carefully polished.
Many images are almost erased and are difficult to distinguish.
Erechtheion
The history of architecture and culture of ancient Greece is divided into three periods.
1. Ancient period - archaic. Having repelled the invasion of the Persians, having liberated their lands, the Persians got the opportunity to freely create. 600-480 AD BC.
2. The heyday is a classic. Alexander the Great conquered vast territories with different cultures, the eclecticism of these cultures was the cause of the decline of Greek classical art. The heyday came after his death. 480-323 BC.
3. Late period - Hellenism. This period ended in the thirtieth year BC with the conquest of ancient egypt Romans, which was under Greek influence.
Art Ancient Greece undoubtedly had a huge impact on subsequent generations. For the later eras of cultural development, majestic beauty, tranquility, harmony became the source and model.
Greece is a country with a great architectural past, in which much attention was paid to the construction of temples. The Greeks in the construction of ancient temples in the archaic era replaced wood with white marble and yellowish limestone. Such material not only looked noble, but was also distinguished by its centuries-old durability.
Parthenon
The image of the temple resembled the ancient dwelling of the Greeks, which in its shape resembled a rectangular structure. Further, the construction continued the well-known logical scheme - from simple to complex. Very soon the layout of each temple became individual. But some features still remained unchanged. For example, the stepped foundation of temples remained unchanged. The temple was a room without windows, which were surrounded by columns in several rows, and inside the building there was a statue of a deity. The columns supported the gable roof and floor beams. The people were not allowed to enter the temple, only the priests had the right to be present here, so everyone else admired its beauty from the outside. This feature served to give the temple external harmony and beauty.
Temple plans. 1 Temple in Anty. 2 Forgiveness. 3 Amphiprostyle. 4 Peripter. 5 Dipter. 6 Pseudodipter 7 Tholos.
Greek temples are different in their compositions, stylistic elements in each are used in a special way.
1. Distil - “temple in ants”. The earliest type of temple. It consists of a sanctuary, the front facade is a loggia, bounded along the edges by side walls (antami). Two columns were installed along the front pediment between the ants.
2. Forgiveness. It is similar to Antov, only four columns are installed on the facade, not two.
3. Amphiprostyle or double prostyle. On both facades of the building there are porticos with 4 columns.
4. Peripter. Occurs most frequently. Columns surround the temple around the perimeter. There are six columns on both facades, the side ones are determined by the formula "2p + 1". P is the number of columns on the front facade.
5. Dipter. A type of temple, on the side facades of which there were two rows of columns.
6. Pseudo-dipter. The same as Dipter, only without the inner row of columns.
6. Round peripter or Tholos. The sanctuary of such a temple has a cylindrical shape. The temple is surrounded by columns around the perimeter.
In Greek architecture, the types of columns and friezes were distinguished, which received the names of orders.
The earliest, Doric, is associated with the culture of the Dorians who lived in mainland Greece. In the Doric order, powerful and short, tapering upwards, columns with flutes end in a capital with a square abacus and do not have a base.
The Ionic order developed in insular and Asia Minor Greece. Ionic columns, thinner and more elongated, rest on a base and end with a capital carved from a rectangular block. The capital is formed by two curls (volutes). In most of the temples that have come down to us, Doric and Ionic orders are used.
The Corinthian order appeared in Athens in the 5th century BC. e. The column is crowned with a magnificent capital, which is a curly shoots of acanthus. This order was received wide application during the Hellenistic era.
Doric order with painting.
In construction, special attention was paid to natural conditions, the greatest artistic inscription of the building in the surrounding landscape. The noble forms of architecture of Ancient Greece are striking in our time. Although from a constructive point of view, everything was very simple. Only two elements were used: the bearing part (beams, lintels, slabs) and the bearing part (walls and columns).
Many different structures of a public nature were erected: palestras, stadiums, theaters, residential buildings. The theaters were built on the slopes of the hills, the stage was made across the slope, the stage was at the bottom. Residential buildings were built in such a way that a small rectangular courtyard was obtained in the center.
Acropolis.
Acropolis. Athens.
Acropolis at night
Acropolis - holy city in which each ruin speaks of a beauty that is not even subject to time. A wide marble staircase leads up the hill. Near it, on the right, an elegant small temple was erected to the goddess of victory, Nike. Its outlines resemble a precious box. To get to the main square, you should pass the gate with columns - Propylaea.
Plan of the Acropolis.
Here stands the statue of the goddess of wisdom Aphrodite, the patroness of the city. Further, it is not difficult to notice the Erechtheion temple, complex and peculiar in plan. With its famous portico, where female statues - caryatids - are used instead of columns. Can't be ignored main temple Acropolis Parthenon, which was dedicated to Athena. It was built in the Doric style and is rightfully considered the most perfect structure built 2 thousand years ago. Kallikrat and Iktin are the creators of the temple. The statue of Athena, on which the sculptor Phidias worked, the marble friezes that surrounded the temple with their 160-meter ribbon, an amazing relief of two hundred horses and three hundred human figures were the main images in the festive procession of the Athenians.
The Parthenon fell into ruins over 300 years ago during the Venetian siege of Athens in the 17th century. The Turks established a powder warehouse in the temple. The surviving reliefs of the temple were taken in the 19th century to London by the Englishman Elgin. Now they are kept in the British Museum and remind only part of the story of the glorious history of the architectural past of the Acropolis.
Apse (apse)- the altar ledge, as if attached to the temple, most often semicircular, but also polygonal; covered with a semi-dome (konkhoy). An altar was placed inside the apse.
Altar(from Latin "alta ara" - high altar) - the main part of the Christian temple in its eastern part. In an Orthodox church, it is separated by an altar partition or iconostasis. The altar housed the throne - the elevation for the celebration of the main Christian sacrament - the Eucharist. Folding altar- an icon consisting of several folding boards covered with picturesque images on both sides (diptych, triptych, polyptych).
altar barrier- a low wall or colonnade that encloses the altar part of the temple in Orthodox churches (from the 4th century).
pulpit- (from Greek) - an elevation in the center of the temple, from which sermons were delivered, the Gospel was read. As a rule, it was surrounded by columns carrying a roof (ciborium).
arcature belt- wall decoration in the form of a row of decorative arches.
flying butt- an open semi-arch, which serves to transfer pressure to the buttresses of the temple.
Atrium- closed courtyard, where the rest of the premises go.
Attic- (from the Greek Attikos - Attic) - a wall erected over the crowning architectural structure cornice. Often decorated with reliefs or inscriptions. In ancient architecture, it usually completes the triumphal arch.
basilica- a building rectangular in plan, divided by columns (pillars) into several longitudinal galleries (naves).
Drum- a cylindrical or multifaceted upper part of the temple, over which a dome is built, ending with a cross.
light drum- a drum, the sides or cylindrical surface of which is cut through by window openings. The head is a dome with a drum and a cross, crowning the temple building.
Baptistery- baptismal. A small centric building, round or octagonal in plan.
stained glass- a picture on glass, an ornament made of colored glass or other material that transmits light.
Gem- a carved stone with an in-depth (intaglio) or convex (cameo) image.
donjon- the main tower of a medieval castle.
Deaconnik- a room in the altar part of an Orthodox church to the south of the altar.
Altar- a room in the altar part of an Orthodox church to the north of the altar.
Belfry- a structure built on the wall of the temple or installed next to it with openings for hanging bells. Types of belfries: wall-shaped - in the form of a wall with openings, pillar-like - tower structures with a multifaceted (as a rule, in Russian architecture, - octahedral, less often - nine-sided) base with openings for bells in the upper tier. In the lower tiers, there is often a ward type - a volume rectangular in plan with a covered vaulted arcade, the supports of which are located along the perimeter of the walls.
Zakomara- (from other Russian. mosquito- vault) - a semicircular or keeled completion of a wall section, covering the adjacent internal cylindrical (box, cross) vault.
Keystone- a stone that completes a vault or arched opening.
Campanile- in Western European architecture, a free-standing tetrahedral or round bell tower.
Canon- a set of strictly established rules that determine the main set of plots, proportions, compositions, drawings, colors for works of art of this type.
buttress- a massive vertical protrusion of the wall, reinforcing the main supporting structure.
Conha- a semi-dome above the apse, a niche. Often performed in the form of a shell.
Cross-domed church- the canonical type of the Byzantine Orthodox church. It was a shortened basilica, crowned with a dome, and, according to the Apostolic decrees, facing the altar to the east.
Cube- the main part of the temple.
Dome- coating in the form of a hemisphere, an overturned bowl, etc.
plowshare- wooden tiles used to cover the domes, barrels and other tops of the temple.
Bulb- a church dome resembling an onion in shape.
shoulder blade- a vertical flat and narrow ledge of a wall, similar to a pilaster, but without a base and a capital.
Luminary- a hole in the ceiling of an early Christian church.
Martyrius- a type of early Christian memorial church over the grave of a martyr.
Mosaic- a favorite type of monumental painting in the Middle Ages. The image is made from pieces of colored glass - smalt, natural stones. Pieces of smalt and stone have an irregular shape, the light on them is repeatedly refracted and reflected at different angles, creating a magical shimmering glow that trembles in the semi-darkness of the temple.
Naos- the central part of the Byzantine cross-domed church, crowned with the main dome.
Narthex- an extension on the western side of the temple, giving the building a more elongated rectangular shape. It was separated from the central part of the temple - the naos - by a wall with arched openings leading to each of the naves.
Rib- an arched rib in Gothic vaults.
Nave- (from the Greek "neus" - a ship) - an elongated room, part of the interior of a church building, limited on one or both longitudinal sides by a row of columns or pillars.
Porch- a porch and a small platform (usually covered) in front of the entrance to the Orthodox Church.
Pilaster(shovel) - a constructive or decorative flat vertical protrusion on the wall surface, having a base and a capital.
Basement- lower floor of the building.
Curb- a decorative strip of bricks placed on the edge at an angle to the surface of the facade. Has the shape of a saw.
Sail- an element of the dome structure in the form of a spherical triangle. The main dome rests on the sails.
Plinfa- flat brick (usually 40x30x3 cm), a building material and an element of the external decorative decoration of temples.
Portal- decoratively decorated doorway of the building.
Portico- a gallery on columns or pillars, usually in front of the entrance to the building.
aisle- a small temple attached to the main building of the church, having its throne in the altar and dedicated to any saint or holiday.
vestibule- West Side Orthodox churches at the entrance, where, according to the Charter, some parts of the service and the service (betrothal, lithium, etc.) are performed. This part of the temple corresponds to the courtyard of the Old Testament tabernacle. The entrance to the narthex from the street is arranged in the form of a porch - a platform in front of the entrance doors, to which several steps lead.
Sacristy- a place in the altar or a separate room with Christian temple to store the liturgical vestments of the priests.
Rust- a hewn stone, the front side of which is left roughly trimmed. The rustication imitates the natural texture of the stone, creates the impression of a special strength and heaviness of the wall.
Rustication- decorative treatment of the plaster surface of the wall, imitating masonry of large stones.
Crossroads- the intersection of the central nave of the cross-domed church with the transept.
Travea- the space of the nave under the vault.
Transept- transverse nave of the cross-domed church.
Refectory- part of the temple, a low extension on the western side of the church, which served as a place for sermons, public meetings.
Fresco- ("fresco" - fresh) - the technique of monumental painting with water-based paints on damp, fresh plaster. The primer and the fixing (binder) substance are one whole (lime), so the paints do not crumble.
The fresco technique has been known since ancient times. However, the surface of the antique fresco was polished with hot wax (a mixture of fresco with wax painting - encaustic). The main difficulty of fresco painting is that the artist must start and finish the work on the same day, before the raw lime has dried. If amendments are necessary, it is necessary to cut out the corresponding part of the lime layer and apply a new one. The fresco technique requires a steady hand, quick work and a perfectly clear idea of the entire composition in every part of it.
Gable- completion (triangular or semicircular) of the facade of the building, portico, colonnade, limited by two roof slopes on the sides and a cornice at the base.
Choirs- an open gallery, a balcony in the second tier of the temple on the western side (or on all sides except the eastern one). Singers were housed here, as well as (in Catholic churches) organ.
marquee- a high four-, six- or octahedral pyramidal covering of a tower, temple or bell tower, widespread in the temple architecture of Rus' until the 17th century.
Fly- a rectangular cavity in the wall.
Apple- a ball at the end of the dome under the cross.
