Les peintures de l’église Saint-Sauveur de Berestovo : Remarques sur le programme iconographique et épigraphique1

In the autumn of 1643, Greek painters completed the frescoes decorating the Berestovo church in Kyiv on behalf of metropolitan Peter Moghila. The iconographic program relied on a specific tradition whose origin can be traced to 14th-century Northern Balkans. The chief features of this iconography are the ‘Imperial Deesis’, combined in the Kyivan church with an iconography inspired by Psalm 44 [45]:9 (“Upon thy right hand did stand the Queen...”). It represents Christ “King of Kings”, dressed as an emperor and flanked by a crowned Virgin and a depiction of King David, identified with Grand Prince Vladimir. The church decoration mirrors contemporary theological debates on the Eucharist, reproducing the similar 14th-century controversies on liturgy.