DOME, VAULT, LUNETTE AND PILLAR PAINTING

All five domes of the Assumption Cathedral represent different images of God. The image of Christ Pantocrator is in the central dome, Christ child in the likeness of incarnated God the Son in the composition Our Lady of the Sign is in the southeast dome, while the northeast dome of Everlasting Logos bears an image of God as Christ-Immanuel, which means In God We Trust. There is an allegoric image of the indescribable Lord of Sabaoth with the eight-pointed halo symbolizing eternity, in the southwestern dome; and an image of the Saviour Not-Made-By-Hands in the north-western dome. The drum of the central dome bears images of angels in full length, solemnly interceding with God. In the window piers below these depictions, there are Biblical patriarchs with scrolls in their hands. Traditionally, squinch arches illustrate four Evangelists spreading the light of the teachings of Christ over the world through their Gospels.

The vaults represent the Twelve Great Feasts, i.e. the most revered feasts of yearly divine services. The south-eastern vault depicts the Nativity of Christ composition, with the scenes of the adoration of the Magi, the annunciation to the shepherds and the washing of the infant Christ. The north-eastern vault contains the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, which is, bringing the child into the church, where he was met by inspired Prophetess Anna and the Elder, the High-priest Simeon the God-Receiver, who got the revelation that should not see death before he had seen the Savior of the world.

The Transfiguration of Christ, when Christ appeared before His Disciples in glory and effulgence on Mount Fabor, is illustrated on the western vault. The north-western vault next to it bears the Raising of Lazarus composition, while the south-western vault contains the Descent into Hell, i.e. the Resurrection of Christ and rescuing from the hell all the righteous men atoned by His sufferings on Golgotha.

The central vault supported by four round pillars illustrates the Ascension of Christ, when on the fortieth day after the Resurrection Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven before the very eyes of His Disciples and the Virgin Mary.

Lunettes represent parables, stories from the Gospels, which allegorically narrate the teachings of Christ. The illustrated here Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican and the Parable of the Prodigal Son tell about the possibility of making satisfaction for sins and salvation for repentant sinners who accepted Christ by faith.

Round pillars in the central part of the cathedral portray 135 figures of martyrs who were venerated as the ‘pillars of Orthodoxy’. The Appearance of the Archangel Michael to Joshua occupies the bottom level of the south-eastern pillar. It relates to the biblical scene when the Archistratigus appeared to a Hebrew commander at the walls of Jericho and stopped the sun for Joshua’s troops could win the victory.