An
interesting story recently appeared about a district official in Kazakhstan
being depicted in a fresco at the new cathedral in the city of Rudny. Sergey
Kulagin – former akim, or governor, of the Kostanai region – is apparently
found among the crowd of Jews welcoming Jesus in the fresco of the Entrance
into Jerusalem, freshly painted above the church altar.
The picture above shows
the fresco in question, whilst below is a photograph of Mr Kulagin:
Since the
story appeared, Sergey Kulagin has denied having anything to do with putting
himself in the fresco and has even ordered the image to be repainted. He is
quoted as saying:
“When we
opened the church… I noticed a certain likeness. Of course, I told them to
remove it immediately, to paint it over. Such things are unbecoming and
unattractive, further still this is blasphemy.”
Neverthless,
Sergey Kulagin is not the first living politician or ruler to appear in church
iconography. It is a common feature of medieval churches, particularly those
within the old Byzantine Empire, for those who paid for the building to be
honoured in the frescoes. Quite often, as in the example of the 13th century
Boyana church shown, the patron of the church is shown in profile, holding a
model of the building in offering to Christ. Another example of this form is in
the Chora church in Constantinople, where the 14th century court advisor
Theodore Metochites donated substantial funds for restoration and is therefore
honoured in this mosaic.
 |
| Donor portrait of Kalojan and his wife Desislava; Boyana church (Bulgaria, 13th century) |
This
image of benefactor offering a church building to Christ is very common in
medieval churches and so is easily recognizable. It is a more striking and
visible form of a foundation stone or plaque with the patron’s name engraved
upon it.
However,
like a foundation stone or plaque, its position in the building is key. In all
the examples given above, the images of still-living church patrons all appear
in towards the west of the church building, near the entrance. In the case of
the mosaic of Emperor Justinian, made during his own lifetime, the image
appears in the narthex – i.e. the porch of the church, outside the main
building. The patrons are remembered in images, as much so they can be prayed
for after death than anything else, but these images are not placed near the
altar, on the iconostasis, in the sanctuary, or often even in the nave at all.
These places are where images of the Saints, the angels, the Mother of God and
Our Lord Jesus Christ are placed.
 |
| Mosaic of Justinian I in Basilica of San Vitala, Ravenna |
In the
case of the “Kulagin fresco”, however, the image appears in the main dome of
the church. This is surely what the official was thinking of when he called the
fresco of himself as “unbecoming and… blasphemous”. During the Liturgy, the
words “Lift up your hearts…” are sung. Worshipers should look up and see
paintings of Christ’s life which move them to remember the truths these events
reveal. They should not look up and be distracted by thoughts of “Who’s that
slightly pudgy guy without a beard? He looks familiar…” This is not how anyone
who donates toward the building of churches would want to be remembered.
Source: https://iconreader.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/politicians-patrons-and-benefactors-in-icons/
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