Holy Mount Athos Sheltering the Oldest Orthodox Literary Treasures - 1926
This painting marks a break from the examination of key events of Slavic history, and pays tribute to the Greek church which connected the Slavs to the Byzantine empire, particularly through the missionary activities of Cyril and Methodius. Mount Athos, depicted here, is the most sacred place in the Orthodox church. On the right are a group of Russian pilgrims, knelling before the high priests whose ethereal appearance is attributable to the sunlight and foreground left is a blind old man being led by a youth.
Angels appear acress the centre of the composition holding small models of four Slavic monasteries, while the two angels in the centre represent Charity and Faith. Overlooking the entire scene is an image of the Virgin Mary, reinforcing the link with the symbolic nature of the first three paintings in the series.