2 December 2020 года

Dmitry Trofimov’s gilded wall paintings

The October edition of the “Foma” Orthodox magazine published an article about painter Dmitry Trofimov and his art. In 2010, he led the team of artists from Moscow’s “Tsargrad” creative studio to paint the walls of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery’s Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God.

 

The Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God is the basement church of the Nativity of Christ Church. Its small and cozy interior is known for its low vaulted ceilings. The church is part of the complex of churches making up the Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral in the Diveyevo monastery. Venerable Seraphim of Sarov blessed its construction. He prophesied that it would become a resting place for the local saints. It was fulfilled in 2000 when the shrine to hold the relics of the venerable saints Alexandra, Martha, and Elena of Diveyevo was arranged there.

 

The church paintings are dedicated to the story of the earthly life of the Most Holy Mother of God and the history of the Diveyevo monastery.

 

Dmitry Trofimov is the author of over a half of the fifty wall compositions created there. Some of the themes he worked on were never used in the church art before. The artists were inspired by the “Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery” compiled by Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov). His image can be found in one of the paintings there as well. The sisters of Diveyevo also offered great support to the team of painters. They would advise how to present the iconography in the best possible way and painted the ornamental designs.

 

The church walls are covered with gold leaf. It is the first church painted by the “Tsargrad” workshop on a gilded foundation. Golden color is known to symbolize the Divinity, the Divine glory, and the Divine light. Everything points to the fact that our life’s sojourn does not end here on earth. The golden color symbolically transmits the joyful news that the Kingdom of Heaven does exist.

 

Dmitry Trofimov graduated from the Surikov Institute of Art and the icon-painting courses of Igor Grabar Restoration Studio. In 2007, he founded the “Tsargrad” creative studio. “Tsargrad” is a community of icon painters, architects, and fine art experts. The studio is involved with the comprehensive church decoration projects, from church design projects to the interior decoration, including wall painting, icons, iconostasis, church furniture and lighting, stained glass, and the marble floors.