Medieval templon with inseparable objects of prostration. A case of Saints Joachim and Anna church in the Studenica Monastery

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the medieval templon—a stone sanctuary barrier—at Studenica Monastery was not a static structure but integrated frescoes of Christ and the Holy Virgin, painted directly onto its northern and southern sides. This challenges traditional views on templon architecture, which had remained largely unchanged since the Middle Ages. The study re-evaluates existing data from the 14th-century Saints Joachim and Anna church, where remnants of marble closure slabs suggest a stone templon's presence. By proposing an original form that included these frescoes as inseparable components, researchers offer new insights into the functional and symbolic significance of this architectural element in Byzantine religious spaces.

Rakicevic, T. A., & Debljovic-Ristic, N. (2022). Medieval templon with inseparable objects of prostration. A case of Saints Joachim and Anna church in the Studenica Monastery. Zograf, (46), 73–98. https://doi.org/10.2298/zog2246073r