Omophorion

1653

On a yellow-ochre fabric background, there are four Greek crosses, two rectangular pieces of cloth and a circular medallion, all of them decorated with gold, silver and coloured-silk embroideries, representing scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, saint figures and angels, accompanied, in most cases, by liturgical inscriptions.

Following the iconographic register, from the beginning of the votive inscription to the end, the following scenes are depicted:

1. On the first rectangular piece of cloth, the Mamvri Supper or the Holy triptych is embroidered, consisting of three angels talking around Abraham’s table.

2. In the centre of the next cross, the bust of Jesus with a cross-like nimbus is embroidered, while on the arms of the cross, the evangelists John, Matthew, Mark and Luke are depicted.

3. Inside the circular medallion, placed on that part of the omophorion which is worn on the bishop’s back, the bust of Jesus is embroidered with a thread of silver and coloured silk, on a blue background.

4. Near the medallion, there is another cross with a few scenes and characters: in the middle, the Nativity is represented; on its right arm, the Baptism, on the one on the left, the Transfiguration, on the upper arm, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and on the lower arm, the Annunciation. All around the cross, a liturgical inscription in Slavonic is written.

5. Following the chronological display of events, the scenes depicted on the third cross are: The prayer on Mount Gethsemane, on the lower arm, The crucifixion, on the left arm, The lowering into the tomb, on the right arm, and the Resurrection on the upper arm.

6. In the centre of the last cross, the "Holy Virgin Oranta " is depicted, around her with the archangels Michael - on the right arm, Gabriel on the left arm, Raphael on the upper arm, and Iruil on the lower one.

The last rectangular piece of cloth, with which the iconographic repertoire of this omophorion ends, has the scene of the Dormition, in the middle, projected onto an architectonic background, flanked, to its left, by St Anne and the olive tree,and to its right, by a saint standing in front of a church.


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