Chapel of John the Theologian
Slobidka, Ivano-Frankivsk district, Ukraine, 2011
The rector of the church is Father Mykola Kravchuk
The ideological source of paintings for inspiration were samples of ancient symbols of the cross: Petal cross, Greek cross, Maltese cross and Kreensaline cross. Based on authentic samples, we adapted them to the modern style of author's writing and thus inherited these eternal symbols of faith to future generations.
We would like to briefly tell you about each of them:
Maltese - the form of this cross was first adopted on the island of Malta by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem;
Kreensaline - this cross appeared in memory of the words of Jesus Christ "I, - says the Lord, - Lily of the Valley"
Petal - the limbs of this cross are depicted as a flower petal. Saint Gregory wore such a cross on his omophorion. Also, this cross is found in the mosaic of the Kyiv Cathedral of St. Sofia;
Greek - the sign of the Cross of the Lord, symbolizes that he is called to the four ends of the world, ie the whole universe. Also, this cross is found on the tomb of Yaroslav the Wise in the Cathedral of St. Sophia.
These crosses are depicted on the side vaults of the chapel, which are compositionally woven into an ornamental circle surrounded by the symbols of the Eucharist.
In the cupola part of the chapel, on the cruciform vault, the Cross in a circle is depicted - a teardrop-shaped cross, symbolizing the drops of blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. This cross is also depicted in the Greek Gospel of the 11 century.
The cupola is completed by four symbols of the Evangelists. Four holidays of the Holy Church (Christmas, Resurrection, Transfiguration, Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles) - close the lower cupola of the chapel.
Before our paintings, a stained glass window with the image of the Holy Trinity was installed in the sanctuary in the window space, and, according to it, we developed the whole concept. According to our plan - the composition unfolds so that the central image of the Holy Trinity is surrounded by all the holy figures: Righteous Anna, John the Theologian, Basil the Great, Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archdeacon Stephen, the Venerable Martyrs Eudokia and Darius, St. Myron, Bishop of Crete Dmitry of Thessaloniki, as well as images of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia.
Not accidentally painted these Saints, whose names are identical to the names of the family that built this chapel.
The paintings were made by 8 artists under the direction and design of Oleksiy Cherednichenko.