The Holy Virgin Milkprofferer aat the Patrairchate of Peć: A new interpretation

Abstract

In the church dedicated to Holy Virgin Odigitria in the Patriarchate of Peć, the foundation of Archepiscope Danilo II, among several images of Virgin Mary the greatest attention of the researchers was attracted by Holy Virgin the Milkprofferer (Nurturer). Mother of God was painted on the southern wall of the narthex, sitting in the throne with the child Christ suckling in her lap. On the left and right side two angels are represented, showing their respect. To the right, three young women or girls approach, greeting her with their arms outstretched. The fresco was painted about 1330. Close links between the theological ideas expressed in the Akathist service (praise to Holy Virgin Odigitria) and the fresco of Holy Virgin the Milkprofferer are evident. Those ideas found their expression also in the fresco of Holy Virgin the Milkprofferer in the monastery Matejci near Kumanovo, painted a quarter of a century later.

U crkvi, posvećenoj Bogorodici Odigitriji u Pećkoj patrijaršiji zadužbini arhiepiskopa Danila II, među više likova Bogorodice najveću pažnju istraživača pobudila je Bogorodica Mlekopitateljnica (Hraniteljica). Naslikana je na južnom zidu priprate kako sedi na prestolu i doji dete-Hrista, koje joj sedi na krilu. S leve i desne strane prikazana su dva anđela kako joj iskazuju poštovanje. Zdesna prilaze tri mlade žene ili devojke i pozdravljaju je ispruženim rukama. Freska je slikana oko 1330. godine. Može se uočiti tesna povezanost između bogoslovskih ideja iskazanih u službi Akatista (pohvale Bogorodici Odigitriji) i freske Bogorodice Mlekopitateljnice. Te ideje našle su odraz i u fresci Bogorodice Mlekopitateljnice u manastiru Matejči kod Kumanova, koja je slikana četvrt veka kasnije.