ST. NICHOLAS OF SHELCAN CHURCH
The interior walls of this small Orthodox church are entirely covered with frescoes painted by Onufri in 1554-1555.
The interior walls of this small Orthodox church (Kisha e Shën Kollit) are entirely covered with frescoes painted by Onufri in 1554-1555. The building dates from the 14th century and was remodeled in the 16th century. It is a modest church with a single nave of 15 meters in length, including a narthex and an apse. Onufri was a renowned artist at the time, having practiced for some twenty years and holding the title of Archpriest of Elbasan. The drawing is simpler than usual. But we find his palette of bright colors, including his "red Onufri" bright and never equaled. The frescoes have nevertheless suffered from the constant humidity of the Shpat massif and required restoration in 2013-2014. The painter focused here on one major theme: the power of the Holy Spirit. To support the message, the frescoes are accompanied by texts of unparalleled length in Onufri. The left wall is covered with fifteen faces of saints and the complete portrait of Gregory of Nazianzus, called the Theologian. Bishop of Constantinople in the fourth century, he is credited with defining the divine nature of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity. The rest of the walls are occupied by the cycles of the life of Christ (Nativity, Resurrection of Lazarus...) and the Passion of Christ. One can recognize the Entry into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, the Descent from the Cross and, above all, the Resurrection. This scene explodes with radiant colors, as if to symbolize the strength of the Holy Spirit.
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