Nativity Fresco

 

This is one of the most beautiful Christmas cards I've ever received. It came as a RR exchange from the same person who send earlier a Končul Monastery postcard. Orthodox frescos are always a pleasure to receive and show. The fresco itself is decorated with classy ornaments and fonts (too calligraphic to decode, BUT perhaps a Christmas wish written in Serbian). Returning to fresco itself, a small detail gives the scene originality: the bathing (or baptizing?) of Christ in the below register of the scene.

The stamps are with religious themes as well.

The fist one (23 dinars, 2014) shows a fresco called "Christmas hymn" (1309-1316) from Žiča Monastery.
The second stamp (46 dinars, 2103) is an adaptation/reproduction Christmas icon after works of the famous painter Pavel Đurković.
The postcard came with very beautiful handwriting.

Thank You, Ana !

Country: Serbia

Description: Nativity Fresco (location unknown)

Publisher: Издавачки фонд Српске православне цркве (Publishing Fund of the Serbian Orthodox Church)

Končul Monastery

This beautiful card is the first one (stamped) from Serbia, although I have plenty of blank Serbian cards from my previous trips here. It came as a RR exchange from another forum member and it shows an Orthodox Monastery, 3 km away from Raška. It was founded by Great Duke-ruler Stefan Nemanja about 1175 and had close relations with Studenica Monastery, a UNESCO whs.
Unfortunately, in 1686 the monastery was destroyed during Great Turkish War and remained in ruins until 1861 when church was reconstructed, keeping its original basic shape. After 1980, a group of nuns led by Abbess Katarina settled here and begun to build a monastic life & community.
About the stamps: The 22 dinars (2011) shows an icon of Jesus Triumphal entry into Jerusalem by well-known Serbian painter Arsenije Teodorović and is one of the two stamps celebrating 2011 Easter. The 40 dinars (2007) have a beautiful white rose (Vendela) designed by N. Skočajić.

Thank You, Ana !

Country: Serbia

Description: St. Nicholas Monastery in Končul, near Raška

Publisher: Просвета (Prosveta) Belgrade