Analysis was performed on the basis of research carried out in cooperation with the I. Krypiakevych Institute of Ukrainian Studies of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Uzhhorod National University. During the archaeological excavations conducted in 2018–2019 on the territory of Uzhhorod Castle, the remains of burials within the ruins of the church were studied. It is noted that plundered remains were destroyed in the crypts and beyond their borders. Among the fragmentarily preserved funeral equipment were found personal items of Christian worship, which lay mostly in a redeposited state. It is determined that the artifacts represent several categories: scattered rosary beads, crosses and medallions. The article is devoted to the characteristics of six medallions. The main attention is focused on the iconography of images, deciphering inscriptions and clarifying the content and ideological value of plots.
In the process of characterizing the images on the medallions, individual figures were identified, placed in pairs – Saints Sebastian and Roch, Paul the Hermit and Anthony of Egypt. It was found that a fragment of one medallion is dedicated to Saints Benedict and Zechariah, whose figures are missing, but their images symbolize the texts of the prayers they concluded. It has been established that two medallions on the obverse and reverse contain images of Jesus Christ and Mary, respectively. The features of the compositions presented on the medallions are identified with the corresponding plots related to the lives of the saints. The features of the compositions presented on the medallions are identified with the corresponding plots related to the lives of the saints. It is stated that the content of these stories reflects certain aspects of Christian ideology, which professed various spiritual communities.
It is noted that the analysis of technical and technological features of medallions producing made it possible to link their production with professional Western European workshops and to date within the XVII – first quarter of the XVIII century. On the other hand, on the basis of a broad characterization of the content of iconography, connection with monastic orders, process of the formation of the cult of these saints, the emergence of their reliquaries in Europe, endowing the saints with certain guardian properties are revealed. Anti-epidemic significance of the cult of saints is noted. At the same time, it is stated that the considered medallions represent reflection of religious and funeral culture in the aristocratic environment of early modern Hungary.
Key words: monastic orders, burials, medallions, iconography, Christian symbols, anti-epidemic guardians.
Cult objects from burials of the castle church in Uzhhorod: iconography, symbols, origin
