THE REPRESENTATION OF ST. NICHOLAS THE WARM-HEARTED PROTECTOR AND ST. SIMEON THE STILYTES IN THE CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE AT POLOŠKO

Abstract

The church of St. George at Pološko represents an important monument from the Macedonian Medieval Art. The church was erected in the middle of the fourteenth century, a period of important historical changes, theological discussions and new artistic trends. The study of the fresco paintings of the church contributes to the understanding of this period and of the artistic and cultural exchange in the Balkans. Thus, two depictions of saints represented in the lower zone of the church are of special interest: the representation of St. Nicholas the
Warm-hearted Protector and St. Simeon Stilytes depicted with his ulcerous leg.
These two representations reveal the connection of St. George at Pološko with the monuments of Kastoria. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the study of the monuments of Kastoria’s artistic group and to the study of the cultural and artistic exchanges in the 14th century Balkans.