Monahinja Jefimija

TO BE SEEN IN THE TREASURY OF THE MONASTERY OF PUTNA (BUKOVINA), WHICH, AS ITS INSCRIPTION INDICATES, WAS ALSO EMBROIDERED BY EUPHEMIA TOGETHER WITH THE NUN EUPRAXIA. IN THE CENTRE OF THE EPITAPHIOS LIES THE SAVIOUR WITH HIS HANDS FOLDED ON HIS BREAST. ROUND HIM HOVER ANGELS, WITH STARS ABOUT THEM. IN BEAUTY AND ARTISTRY THIS EPITAPHIOS IS NOT INFERIOR TO THE CURTAIN AT HILENDAR. IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO BUKOVINA BY THE MONKS, WHO FREQUENTLY VISITED CASTLES AND MONASTERIES IN THE SERBIAN LANDS, SEEKING GIFTS FOR THEIR OWN MONASTERY.

THESE SPECIMENS OF EUPHEMIA’S WORK SHOW HER TO HAVE BEEN A PIOUS, INTELLIGENT AND NOBLE WOMAN, AND A SKILLED AND FAMOUS EMBROIDRESS. FROM THE ARTISTIC, LITERARY, ECCLESIASTICAL AND NATIONAL POINTS OF VIEW, HER WORK IS UNDOUBTEDLY OF THE FIRST IMPORTANCE IN THE HISTORY OF SERBIAN CULTURE.

TRANSLATED FROM THE SERBIAN BY H. M. STANSFIELD POPOVId