church holy mother god serbian bulgarian medieval eastern orthodox church village municipality eastern serbia church generally considered built 14th century area second bulgarian empire alternative proposed small notable unusual architectural style particular high flanked sharp pointed towers features hint hungarian influences highly medieval bulgarian church architecture church richly decorated inside historical figures portraits variously identified eponymous son bulgarian son earlier speculation image depicted serbian noble fallen favor art historians addition early portraits interior walls church painted canonical murals assigned 14th 15th century church reconstructed serbian state protection history architecture lies eastern serbian village kilometres southeast northeast far bulgarian border church located square centre village left bank river old military road church acquired abundance featuring mary mother jesus prevalent opinion church constructed painted early 14th century individuals widely accepted represented figures depicted church time village region belonged second bulgarian empire alternative theories place construction church century century 16th century church restored church declared monument culture great importance protected terms architecture church features round dome single shape cross line popular byzantine cross square design particular interest storey notable unusual towers entrance judging models depicted donor portraits inside church clear towers originally apart west facade included towers topped sharp pointed elements additional sharp pointed details corners towers design entirely unusual unprecedented medieval bulgarian church architecture art historian believes resemble gothic architecture modern researcher dismisses assessment considers influence hungary despite monumental appearance church small size measures metres according metres materials employed church construction chiefly stones mortar masonry rows bricks added order structure serve decoration particularly dome features elaborate decoration inside church commonly dated 14th 15th century follow standard model established bulgarian church decoration 13th century unusually accompany images old church terms style murals common churches southwestern bulgarian lands biblical scenes figures depicted god include christ child victim lower raising jesus entry jerusalem betrayal jesus passion christ upper descent cross mourning jesus west wall north south walls wall piers bear saints including rare images military saints horseback murals painted upper reaches south north tower respectively religious imagery church include portraits contemporary historical figures separated compositions compositions making identification people practically impossible composition located depicts men preserved waist holds model church child head visible today second composition painted upper west wall portrays man woman boy girl man holding model church common symbol art historian believes images men holding models compositions depict person main donor composition depicts men monk priest portraits greatest interest fourth composition historical figures young man woman painted lowest west wall includes inscriptions figures painted facing viewer man red clothing covered double headed eagles wears archaic looking crown head right hand man holds cross extends hand woman clad attire wearing fitting crown inscription figure man michael christ god faithful michael christ god faithful son michael reading presents significant challenges proper identification portrayed person clearly bore michael reading correct son eponymous result theories proposed bulgarian serbian researchers alike early bulgarian historian suggested michael church identical bulgarian accession throne father named michael usually titled turn proposed theory michael unknown son installed father coronation case unknown son probably dead mentioned ruler shortly theory established identification michael bulgarian historiography theory supported serbian bulgarian researchers michael unknown son born son bulgarian proclaimed shortly father accession died battle ottomans identification account mentions widow returned childless constantinople death issue theory source mentions theory forward early serbian historians subsequently lost support serbian scholarship michael identified century serbian noble brother ottoman statesman depth research concluded ascribed artistic style clothing portraits uncommon period furthermore church bear little architectural similarity churches school dominated 15th century serbian architecture revealed controlled ottomans possession certain serbian titled identity woman matter debate inscription accompanies image clearly includes title word daughter based possible reading anna identified serbian wife line identification believes possible woman son husband settled second marriage owned personal domain included reading inscription
Church of the Holy Mother of God, Donja Kamenica