The Church of the Holy Trinity

with which He had been fastened to the cross, inviting them to touch His wounds so that they might be assured of His resurrection (Luke 24:36–40). In the next scene Christ is depicted eating honey in the comb and broiled fish (Luke 24:41–43): this fresco illustrates the reality of Christ's bodily resurrection, and shows the Risen One standing at table with the apostles. In the altar space there is also the scene of the miraculous draught of fishes on the Sea of Tiberias, which shows Christ directing the apostles to cast the net and draw in a great catch of fish, while Peter, recognizing Christ, leaps into the sea (John 21:1–7). In the central zone of the altar apse of the church of Manasija Monastery extends the scene of the Communion of the Apostles. In accordance with established iconographic patterns, Christ is depicted twice in the center of the apse, standing at the holy table beneath a ciborium. On the north side Christ gives communion to the apostles with the eucharistic bread, while the Apostle Peter approaches Him first, bowing to receive the Body of Christ. Five apostles are lined up behind him in an attitude of prayer. On the south side Christ gives communion to the apostles with the eucharistic wine, while the Apostle Paul approaches first, bowing to receive the Blood of Christ from the chalice, and the other apostles stand behind Paul with their hands spread in prayer. The scene is overarched by angels with ripidia and candles, and the space is adorned with architectural elements in the Byzantine style. Along the upper edge of the scene are inscribed the liturgical words of the Last Supper, recorded in the Gospel (Matt. 26:26– 28). Below the scene of the Communion of the Apostles in the altar apse unfolds the scene of the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, in which fourteen Holy Fathers - hierarchs - approach the holy table in procession. In this scene Christ is represented as a child who lies ready for sacrifice and gives His blessing, while angels hold ripidia above the table. From the north side the following Fathers and hierarchs approach: Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Gregory the Theologian, Saint James the Brother of the Lord, Saint Nicholas of Myra, Saint John the Merciful and Saint Sava of Serbia. From the south side of this composition, in turn, the following Fathers approach Christ: Saint Basil the Great, Saint Athanasius the Great, Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Saint Sylvester of Rome and Saint Spyridon of Trimythous. Above this composition and below the scene of the Communion of the Apostles, half-length figures of fourteen saints, that is, of fourteen bishops, are depicted in medallions. Among other things, the altar space was also painted with various biblical scenes of Abraham's sacrifice of his only son Isaac (Gen. 22:1–13). Also painted are the Three Youths - the three young men in the Babylonian furnace from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 3:20–95). In the prothesis and the diaconicon of the church of Manasija Monastery representations of holy hierarchs are carefully arranged in several zones.