Stylistic Analysis of the Holy Icons from Saint George Church in Yenikoy, Istanbul

Abstract

The main subject of the research is to analyse the multi-themed sacred proskynetarion icons in Yeniköy Ayios Yeoryios (St. George) Metochion Church, one of the three metochion churches of the Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul. Although it is known that the icons found in the metochion churches in Istanbul have not been studied before, the icons belonging to the church in Yeniköy from these structures were included in the research. Due to the limitations of the article, which prevented the evaluation of all the icons in the church, the research focused solely on the technical and stylistic features of the multi-themed proskynetarion icons. Proskynetarions, also known as the pilgrim icons, contain depictions of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem due to their characteristics. The presence of proskynetarions in this place is directly related to the fact that Yeniköy Ayios Yeoryios Church is a Metochion affiliated to the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Icons are accepted as important works of art in the frame of art history, as well as their liturgical role as manifestation and visual representations of the sacred. It is important to reveal such previously unpublished works, to evaluate them iconographically and to bring them to the art history literature with their semantic context. In the study, a brief historical overview of the status of the Jerusalem Orthodox Patriarchate and the relations between the two patriarchates is presented. At the same time, the location of the building, the architectural plan type, the periodical features in the exterior and interior decoration are mentioned.