White angel - the purest symbol of the Serbian people

The fresco "White Angel" of the Mileseva Monastery is part of the fresco "Myrrh on the Tomb of Christ" and is a masterpiece of medieval art.

"White Angel" belongs to the list of the most beautiful and most important European painting achievements and is located on the vaults of the Mileseva Monastery near Prijepolje.

 That "White Angel" is truly a Serbian treasure that the whole world admires is evidenced by the fact that this masterpiece was chosen as the most important work of European art, but also a symbol of all peace.

"White Angel" is an iconographic message of peace

The fresco "White Angel" with its beauty and perfect composition has long impressed lovers of painting and iconography. This fresco is known for the fact that its structure, relationship and composition bring complete harmony, exudes endless faith and hope and conveys the message of love and peace.

The fresco shows the Archangel Gabriel, dressed in a white chiton, with outstretched wings, sitting on a stone and showing the myrrh with his hand the empty tomb of Christ, the place where Christ was resurrected.

"White Angel" represents the voice of the eternal truth about Christ's resurrection, and thus this fresco has taken root in the Serbian people as a synonym for hope, salvation and miracles.

It is not known who the creator of "White Angel" is, but it is believed that it is a group of Greek artists.

Where is the "White Angel" icon?

 The icon is painted inside the Mileseva monastery. King Stefan Vladislav built the Milesevo Monastery between 1234 and 1235 as a monastery-mausoleum, in which the posthumous remains of Saint Sava have lain since 1237.

Let's not forget that during the Turkish conquests, the frescoes in the monastery suffered enormous damage. They were restored during the 16th and 17th centuries, when another was painted over this fresco.

 Thus, the "White Angel" was hidden from the public eye until the 20th century.

How the world met the "White Angel"

The first satellite transmission of video signals in 1963 between the Old Continent and America contained a fresco of Milesev among the shots, as a special greeting to us Europeans to those on the other side of the world.

After that, when the first satellite signal in the universe was sent from Europe, that video contained images of man conquering the moon, images of the Great Wall of China and the White Angel, which was a message of peace, love and understanding.

Recognizing the beauty, strength and importance, UNESCO has included the Mileseva Monastery and the "White Angel" icon under its protection.

Remembering the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel, the Serbian Orthodox Church celebrates on April 8 and July 26.

Interesting fact: Another recognizable feature of the fresco "White Angel" is the fact that looking from any angle gives the impression of an angel looking directly into the eyes, which is why he is often compared to the famous Mona Lisa.