Cross from the sacristy of the Dormition Cathedral, 1736 (on the occasion of the 970th anniversary of the first Chronicle about Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra)

Dear friends!

We are glad to introduce the next release of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra “Artistic Heritage” to you.

Our today’s story is about the Cross (1736) from the sacristy of the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. It is part of the collection of carved sacred items of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”.

The Ukrainian carved art of the 17^th-18th centuries has its individual artistic “face”. To prove this, let’s have a look at the image of the Virgin Mary on the Blessed Cross. In 1736, it was contributed to the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra by Ihor Boluvenko, a novice monk of Lavra’s printing house (KPL-M-8749, 30.0 × 13.7 cm).

If you look at the front side of the Cross you will see “The Crucifix with Bystanders” traditional composition. The most part of the vertical beam on the reverse side of the Cross is occupied by the “Virgin with the Child” image. Balanced disproportion of the Virgin’s figure (depicted on the crescent that is lying on the sphere) adds to the grandeur and monumentality of Her image. The sphere is wrapped by a snake that keeps an apple in its mouth. The Virgin Mary does not wear her traditional gown. It is replaced by a long garment with narrow sleeves, and pleated loose fitting skirt, tightened by a waist narrow belt. Over the skirt the garment is draped with a fabric, the end of which is thrown over the Virgin’s right arm. Wavy flowing hair lies neatly on the shoulders, high crown sits on top of the head. Similar elements of the image are typical for the “Virgin Birth Immaculate Conception”, the composition used in Western European art. There, Virgin Mary is depicted straight-haired but without a crown and the Child.

Keeping rosary in Her left hand, the Virgin Mary from the Cross extends it to St. Theodosius of Pechersk. The half-figure of the Saint is depicted on the right shoulder of the artwork. The infant Christ, whom the Virgin Mary holds in Her right hand, leans ahead and passes a  string of beads to St. Anthony. In the upper part of the Cross one can see the abbreviated version of the “Presentation to the Temple” composition. Apostle Peter, who holds the key in his right hand, is in the bottom of the Cross. The iconography motif (with the Virgin Mary and the Child), depicted on the Cross by  a novice monk Ihor Baluvenko, is repeated on another carved Blessed Cross in the collection of the Preserve. In 1756 such type of Cross was contributed to the Trinity Hospital Monastery by Hieromonk Timon (KPL-M-8563, 30.5 × 13.0). Two artworks differ in their quality - the carved drawing on Timon’s Cross has more expressive and artistic lines.

Prepared by Olena Serhii, senior research associate

Research Division of the Artistic Heritage of the

National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”

Caption to the illustration:
1. Blessed Cross, 1739, Kyiv. Contribution of the printing novice Ihor Baluvenko to the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Wood, plane carving, silver, engraving, casting, gilding. KPL-M-8749