Visual Strategies in Promoting New Saints in 16th-Century Moldavia

A strategic visual approach was employed in 16th-century Moldavia to promote the cult of local saints, as demonstrated by the frescoes at Voroneț monastery. The study reveals that St John the New and St Daniel the Hermit were depicted in a manner that skillfully orchestrated their sanctity, with St Daniel's portrayal alongside the metropolitan's effigy marking his inaugural veneration. This case study highlights how visual strategies could publicly proclaim and establish the official recognition of new saints, offering insights into the intersection of art, religion, and political authority during this period.

Firea, E. (2021). Visual Strategies in Promoting New Saints in 16^th-Century Moldavia. Ikon, 14, 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.ikon.5.128310