The Wall-paintings of the Inner Narthex

The inner narthex (mesonyktikon) of the katholikon is covered, as we have seen, with wall-paintings of 1760. An investigation has revealed the existence of an older layer of painting preserved, to an extent which is unknown, below the later layer. A sample removal from the wall of the wall-paintings of the southern arch of the inner narthex revealed two full-length figures, that of Christ on the eastern part of the arch, and of an hierarch, St Phocas, on the western part of the same arch⁶⁴.

From the point of view of the art, St Phocas belongs to the workshop of the artist responsible for the wall-paintings showing hierarchs in the prothesis and the diakonikon .

On the other hand, Christ, whose face seem to bear some signs of over-painting⁶⁵, has affinities in terms of portrayal and technique with the Christ of Staro Nagoricino (1316-1318)⁶⁶.