Scenes of the Life of Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas Chapel, Patriarchate of Pec Monastery, Serbia

This extensive Serbian cycle showing the life of Saint Nicholas was painted from 1673–74 by Radul, the best-known Serbian artist in the late 17th century. The tiny Saint Nicholas Chapel, built in 1337, is part of the Monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec. The complex also has three much larger adjacent churches: Church of the Holy Apostles, Church of Saint Demetrios (1320), and Church of the Virgin. The frescos have been extensively conserved and documented by the Blago Fund.

Nicholas ordained priest — Nicholas ordained to the priesthood

Nicholas with Constantine and Ablabius — Nicholas appears in dream to Constantine and Ablavius to save the innocent generals

Death of Nicholas — The death of Nicholas

Translation of the Relics — Nicholas' relics are translated to Bari, Italy

Nicholas coming for Basilios — Nicholas comes when Basilios is serving the king

Nicholas returns Basilios — Nicholas rescues kidnapped Basilios, returning him to his parents

Nicholas banishing demons — Nicholas driving demons from a tree

Nicholas rescuimg Demetrios from the sea — Nicholas saving Demetrios from drowning

Nicholas in ship — Nicholas calming storm and saving sailors

Polovtsian with icon — A Polovotsian pledges to repay a debt, making an oath on an icon of St. Nicholas

Nicholas reminds of promise — Nicholas comes to the Polovtsian, reminding him of his promise

Nicholas beating the Polovtsian — Nicholas beats the Polovtsian

Polovtsian returns to icon — The Polovtsian returns to pay his debt

Polovtsian on horse — Nicholas comes again, warning the Polovtsian

Nicholas appears to Stephen — Nicholas appears in a dream, reassuring Stephen Decani

Nicholas heals Stephen Decani of blindness

These frescos are from the Church of Saint Nicholas, Monastery of the Patriarchate of Pec, as shown by the Blago Fund to preserve and promote Serbian heritage, Washington, DC. Used by permission.