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"Страшный суд" в церкви Рождества Богородицы в Б етании и тема Второго пришествия в программах росписей средневековых памятников Грузии (X–XIII вв.)
The article treats the iconographic program of the
Last Judgment scene in the Church of the Nativity
of the Mother of God in Betania (second half of the
11th c., Georgia), it regards as well the relation of the
given fresco to the process of development of similar
representations in Georgian monuments. The Last
Judgment scene appeared early in the monumental
painting in Transcaucasia; the fresco decoration of
the west wall in the Church of the Mother of God
at Udabno (David Gareji) from the 11th c. is held
to be the earliest one in Georgia. Starting from the
monuments from the late 11th c. - early 12th c. (Ateni,
Bochorma), the theme based on writings that go
back to the eschatological Vision of Prophet Daniel
(Dan. 7-13) was actualized. The image of “the Ancient
of Days” appeared within the program of the
Last Judgment scene. In the Last Judgment fresco
from Betania, it was for the first time that the scene
depicting the Paradise was moved in the center of
the composition, the scenes with the apocalyptical
visions of St. Ephraim the Syrian appeared for the
first time as well. The scenes connected with Christ’s
Miracles were introduced in the representation of
the Second Coming of Christ.