Николай Шелехов (1912-1981) – светило на православната иконопис на Балканите
Nicolay Schelechow (1912-1981) – A Balkan Star of Eastern Orthodox Iconography

Summary/Abstract: Artistic and spiritual contribution of distinguished Russian white émigré iconographer Nicolay Schelechow (1912-1981) in Orthodox iconography is more than a part of the Bulgarian and Russian cultural heritage. Exceptionally talented and hard-working cleric and iconographer, Schelechow was Balkan star of iconography of 20th century who followed his personal choice of Eastern cultural tradition and church vocation even in the West and when becoming lay iconographer. He lived, served, and worked in Bulgaria under the spiritual guidance of saint Seraphim Sobolev (1881-1950). Becoming hieromonk and graduating Theology he did some lessons in icon-painting with Russian artists in Bulgaria, and studied iconography in special course held by Serbian church and Russian Old-believer iconographer Pymen Sofronov with the aim of returning Orthodox church painting from the secular and Western influences to the old tradition of Byzantine style and technique. Three more decades Schelechow worked in Bulgaria for church and private commissioners – he worked in icon painting studio at Rilla monastery, painted church murals, taught iconography in Theological academy and edited a manual that is still in use nowadays; from 1961 he taught at Knyazhevo convent, worked in his studio and painted murals; from 1967 he immigrated in Germany, worked on several church iconostases, and opened an exhibition in Munich; in 1975 he immigrated in Canada he also worked and taught iconography. Schelechow achieved iconographic style according to best Orthodox Church canonical and artistic tradition followed also by his disciples including his son - Canadian iconographer Alexander Schelechow who is also his first biographer.

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