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

Sofia cabaret show celebrates the legacy of Eartha Kitt

Bulgarian artists are reviving the legacy of the American actress and singer Eartha Kitt in a new cabaret production called Obsessed with Eartha . Blending live music, theatre and jazz, the show transports audiences to another era, tracing the..

published on 10/12/25 3:30 PM

Stamp collectors gather in Dobrich for an exhibition

A jubilee philatelic exhibition, 'Dobrich Philex 2025', is set to open on 15 October at the Dora Gabe Regional Library in Dobrich, running until 17 October. The exhibition is dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the return of Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria...

published on 10/12/25 9:25 AM

A Braid of Cultures – when the Albanian soul speaks Bulgarian

In the heart of Sofia, in the majestic building of the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", a piece of the Albanian soul was revealed during the presentation of the novel "The Cut Braid" by the famous Albanian writer Majlinda Bregasi – a..

published on 10/11/25 1:25 PM