The Cult of St Nicholas the New Martyr of Sofia and His Representations at Sofia Churches in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century
The Cult of St Nicholas the New Martyr of Sofia and His Representations at Sofia Churches in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century

Summary/Abstract: The article follows the development of the cult of St Nicholas the New Martyr of Sofia from his martyrdom in 1555 to the mid-20th century. The iconography of the saint in the monuments of the 16th through the 17th century is similar to that of four saints of the same name: he is represented as a martyr, wearing a chiton and a himation and holding a cross. Images of the saint in military garment appeared in the 18th century. In the first half of the 19th century he was depicted both as a martyr and a warrior riding a horse and began to be signified as St Nicholas the New Martyr of Sofia. It was only after the Liberation that the saint obtained the iconography establishing itself throughout the 20th century – a middle-aged man wearing military attire because of the publishing of a print featuring the saint’s image and his vita.

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