Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The Double Christ depicted on a fresco in Bulgaria's Zemen Monastery

The Double Jesus Fresco in Bulgaria's Zemen monastery
Photo: BGNES

A fresco recreating the forging of the nails for the Crucifixion can be seen in the Zemen Monastery in central Western Bulgaria. It was painted in the 14th century and is the only one of its kind, as the scene is not found in world religious painting, the Regional Administration in Pernik reports.

The frescoes in the monastery church  of St. John the Theologian trace Jesus' journey to Golgotha. An unknown artist in Bulgaria has interpreted the biblical plot "The Last Supper" in a special way, depicting Christ twice - one handing the bread and the other pouring the wine. The "double Christ" cannot be seen anywhere else, the district administration claims. 
This different interpretation makes the temple extremely valuable for world culture.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Photo exhibition dedicated to opera diva Raina Kabaivanska in Burgas

Burgas is the town where Bulgarian opera diva Raina Kabaivanska started her remarkable career on the world’s opera stages. That is why it is in Burgas that a photo exhibition has opened, tracing the life, career and charity work of the Bulgarian opera..

published on 8/3/25 12:10 PM
Vesela Raytchinova

New association of Bulgarian cultural organisation around the world to promote their activities

The Association of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations Abroad is the newest organization uniting Bulgarians around the world. 26 associations and 6 individual members are among the founders. "In Sofia we gave a start of the order..

published on 8/1/25 10:57 AM

‘The Art of Collecting Time’: The National Gallery unveils a donation from collector Gaudenz Ruf

At the height of the 'burning summer' — as author Georgi Gospodinov poetically described these sweltering days — Sofia played host to a remarkable cultural event. The exhibition, 'The Art of Collecting Time', opened at the former royal palace, which is..

published on 7/30/25 5:35 PM