The hitherto unpublished and unresearched Homily on Christ’s Baptism (EMML 7028, f. 6v-20r, dated 1397/8) contains, apart from the predictable Christian theological content, some remarks on Islam. They serve a mostly rhetorical purpose, equating a Christian“heresy” condemned by the author with the religion of the Muslims. These passages, when analysed in detail, reveal some knowledge of Muslim customs and religion such as the lack of Christ’s divinity and the name of the Prophet. This shows that the élite circles of the Ethiopian Church had some familiarity with Islam and that the study of unpublished Ethiopic manuscripts can shed some new light on this phenomenon.
The influence of hesychasm on representation on Christ’s baptism isn’t so obvious as in the case of transfiguration, anastasis or koimesis. On the contrary to the mentioned above, it hasn’t had its own study. We can assume, that the rise of interest in hesychasm during the kingship of Milutin is connected to Milutin’s programme of translation important theological and philosophical texts into Serbian language. In all referred images, we can see a manifestation of the mystical light of God. In the case of transfigurations, koimesis and anastasis, this light is illustrated by mandorla (almond-shaped aureole) around Christ. In depictions of baptism, mandorla surround the dove of the Holy Spirit. In the Serbian art mandorla takes, repeatedly, very complicated shapes. Additionally, in the baptism and koimesis scenes, above Christ’s head, appear open doors of Heaven. This can emphasise presence of God.
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