The Images of holy warriors in the temples of Kievan Rus: iconography and symbolism of the image

Background. In the Ukrainian art history during the XX – the beginning of the XXI century occured the appearance of a significant number of scientific works devoted to the study of sacred art in Ukraine. However, the researchers mostly focused on artistic centers of sacred art, considered fine arts in the context of the development of historical styles, described the monuments from museum collections, as well as However, beyond the attention of Ukrainian researchers, remained virtually unchanged the iconicity of certain sacred images, including the figure of the holy warriors. Their image appeared in Ukrainian art with the adoption of Christianity in our area and played an important role in the life of the Ukrainian people. The atmosphere of military tension, the conditions of constant combat readiness, the struggle with external and internal enemies became the basis for the emergence of the ancient cult of the holy warrior. The enumeration of the most respected holy warriors includes Demetrius of Thessalonica, St. George, Archangel Michael, St. Eustachius, Theodore Tyrone and Theodore Stratilat, Boris and Hlib. They were considered patrons of Kievan Rus princes, guardians of the state and martyrs who suffered from the hands of emperors who profess paganism. Therefore, it is no not by chance that their images appear among the decorations of the interiors of the ancient temples and require a detailed study.

Objectives. The object of the article is to deduce on an example of frescoes' memorials from the temples of Kievan Rus the embodiment of the images of a warrior as a patron of the Kievan Rus princes, a martyr, who defended the Christian religion and defender. Analyze the solution of the image in the spatial relation of the temple, external personality, attribute and symbolism of color.

Methods. The research methodology has complex character and based on the correlation of a number of methodological approaches. One of the main methods used in the work is a historical, which allowed to trace the processes of forming the cult of holy warriors in the culture of Kievan Rus. The iconographic method was used to maximally analyze the monuments of fine art, where there is a depictions of holy warriors, as well as to read the multifaceted structure of artistic images. The method of artistic analysis was used to characterize the artistic peculiarities of images of holy warriors on the frescoes of Kievan Rus temples. One of the methods that helps in characterizing the specificity of the transmission of the composition and the means of expressiveness in the images of holy warriors is art studies (formal-stylistic analysis). The methodological techniques of iconology and semiotics are taken into account and used.

Results. The results of the research are based on the analysis of literary sources of Russian, Ukrainian and English researchers who viewed Kievan Rus culture, as well as fresco paintings of Kyiv Rus temples. The depictions of the holy warriors on the frescoes of Sophia of Kyiv and St. Cyril's Monastery show the images of incarnation of Kievan Rus princes patrons, martyrs and defendors. Their images were intended to create the impression of a strong and mighty state, to be the support of Christian religion and an example for imitation. The artists attached great importance to their figures, using all means of expression: color, light transmission, compositional solution, and such details as clothes and attributes. Important duaring the creating of the image of the holy warrior is also an emotional filling in which read the features of heroism, readiness for battle, courage.

Conclusions. Thanks to the conducted research on the monuments of Kyiv Russ temples, we can come to the conclusion that the holy warriors Demetrius of Thessalonica, St. George, Archangel Michael, St. Eustachius, Theodor Tyrone, Theodor Stratilat, Boris and Glib were the Christian saints who suffered persecution from emperors, opponents of the Christian faith. Their cult got into the territory of Kyiv Russ from Byzantium and was especially popular after the baptism of Russ. Historical and political factors: numerous wars, the election of holy warriors as patrons of Kyiv Russ princes, the popularity of hagiographic literature about the lives of saints, the special spread of their cult among the people as guards and fighters with the forces of evil caused the appearance of the images of holy warriors among the paintings of Kyiv Russ temples.

Having analyzed the fresco paintings, we can note that in the decorating of the Kyiv Russ temples the images of the warriors have a clearly defined location: on the pillars and in the naves. For better perception by the viewer in the image of the saints, the artists adhere to clear canons in the construction of the composition: the figure of the saint was portrayed frontal and static, with individual traits and attributes; the center of the golden section was nibb. In the golden diamonds, faces, assistants, a harmonious color relationship reveals divine light and energy. The color scheme consisted of warm shades of colors on the face and clothes and cold – the background, ground.

In  Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kyiv the artist paid a special attention to Saint George and Archangel Michael with scenes of their deeds. Them were given a special place in the northern and southern altar. This is due to the fact that St. George was the patron of Yaroslav the Wise, and Archangel Michael – the patron of Kyiv. Particular attention deserves also the figure of St. Eustachius, who was identified with Prince Volodimir. In the St. Cyril's Monastery, holy warriors act as defenders of the temple and the whole country, which confirms their position on the pillars of the temple, as well as the saints are the prefiguration of the Kyiv Russ tprinces, as evidenced by the character of the cloths and external features.