Boyana Church

◎熊娟娟

Track 5

博雅納教堂，是保加利亞13 世紀以來唯一一個保存完整、體現保加利亞宮廷藝術特點的文物建筑，被譽為“索非亞王冠上的明珠”，是保加利亞著名的東正教教堂。其古老神秘的壁畫、獨特非凡的建筑、賞心悅目的周遭風景無一不令人神往。1979 年，它被列入聯合國教科文組織世界遺產名錄。

Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church located on the1)outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.It is renowned for its stunning2)frescoes, which are considered some of the most important examples of medieval Eastern Orthodox art in the world.The church was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979,recognizing its outstanding cultural and historical significance.

The church consists of three buildings that date back to different periods in history.The eastern church was constructed in the 10th century, while the central church was built in the 13th century.The western church, a residential wing, was added in the 19th century.The frescoes inside the church are the main attraction, with the oldest ones dating back to the 11th century.These frescoes are considered masterpieces of Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox art and are known for their vivid colors, detailed portrayal of religious scenes, and the emotional depth of the characters depicted.

The frescoes in Boyana Church are divided into several layers, each representing a different historical period.The oldest layer, dating back to the 11th–12th centuries,features images of saints,apostles, and scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.The second layer, from the 13th–14th centuries, includes depictions of historical figures and rulers.The Last Supperand the portraits of saints were particularly renowned.These paintings of the second layer were created by an3)anonymous artist in 1259.Despite the strict religious conventions of the time, the artist boldly employed a more liberated form of expression.The facial expressions of the figures in the frescoes,including the various saints, Carolingian figures, and members of the royal family, are remarkably vivid.They are no longer mere stereotypical idols, but rather portray individuality and distinctive features, displaying a clear sense of realism and bearing a striking4)resemblance to local folk art.This represents one of the most outstanding achievements of medieval Bulgarian art.

Teeming with its artistic significance, Boyana Church is also important for its architectural and historical value.The church’s design reflects the transition from the Byzantine tradition to a more distinct Bulgarian architectural style.The church has survived numerous earthquakes and invasions over the centuries, and its preservation is a testament to the5)resilience of Bulgarian cultural heritage.

The church is surrounded by a beautiful natural setting, with lush greenery and scenic views of Vitosha Mountain.Visitors to Boyana Church have the opportunity to explore the rich history and cultural heritage of Bulgaria while enjoying the peaceful and picturesque surroundings.Its exquisite frescoes, architectural significance, and historical value make it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in exploring the rich cultural heritage of Bulgaria.

1) outskirtn.郊區；市郊

2) frescon.壁畫

3) anonymousadj.匿名的

4) resemblancen.相似

5) resiliencen.彈力；恢復力

博雅納教堂是一座位于保加利亞首都索非亞郊外的中世紀保加利亞東正教教堂。它以令人驚嘆的壁畫而聞名，被認為是世界上中世紀東正教藝術最重要的范例之一。該教堂于1979 年被列入聯合國教科文組織世界遺產名錄，以表彰其杰出的文化和歷史意義。

博雅納教堂由三座建筑物組成，這三座建筑物分別在不同的歷史時期建造。東側的教堂建于10 世紀，而中間的教堂建于13 世紀，西側的教堂是19 世紀增加的住宅翼。教堂內的壁畫是博雅納教堂主要的景點，最古老的壁畫可追溯到11 世紀。這些壁畫被認為是拜占庭和東正教藝術的杰作，以艷麗的色彩、對宗教場景的詳細描繪和所描繪人物的情感深度而聞名。

博雅納教堂的壁畫分為幾層，每一層代表不同的歷史時期。最古老的一層可追溯到11～12 世紀，描繪了圣徒、使徒和耶穌基督生平的場景。第二層來自13～14 世紀，包括歷史人物和統治者的描繪,尤以《最后的晚餐》和圣像畫最為著名。第二層的這些畫由一位佚名的畫家于1259 年繪成。盡管當時的教規十分嚴厲，畫家還是大膽地采用了自由的表現形式。壁畫中的人物，包括眾圣徒、卡洛林王朝成員和皇族成員的面部表情非常生動，不再是因襲的、刻板的偶像，而是有個性和有特色的人物，具有明顯的現實主義色彩，且十分接近當地民間藝術，是中古保加利亞藝術最杰出的成就。

除了其藝術意義，博雅納教堂的建筑和歷史價值也很重要。教堂的設計反映了從拜占庭傳統到更為獨特的保加利亞建筑風格的過渡。教堂經歷了數個世紀的多次地震和入侵，其保存是對保加利亞文化遺產韌性的證明。

教堂周圍是美麗的自然環境——郁郁蔥蔥的綠地和維托沙山的如畫風景。前往博雅納教堂的游客有機會探索保加利亞豐富的歷史和文化遺產，同時享受一派寧靜和秀麗的風景。博雅納教堂精美的壁畫、建筑意義和歷史價值使其成為對探索保加利亞豐富文化遺產感興趣的人士必游之地。