THE AKATHIST HYMN TO THE THEOTOKOS CYCLE

Two bottom tiers of the frescoes in the church (the third and the forth from above) are devoted to the Akathist Hymn, praising the Theotokos. The Akathist is a well-known work of Byzantine literature of the 6th century, a solemn hymn, glorifying the Virgin Mary. In 626, in connection with Constantinople breaking free of the invasion thanks to the intercession of the Virgin, the hymn got one more song in the beginning, praising the Mother of God as the Defender General. According to the tradition, the Feast of the Eulogy of the Most Holy Theotokos was established then. The word Akathist (Greek: "unseated hymn") itself means that it is expected to remain standing in reverence during the hymn is chanted. The murals in the Church of the Deposition of the Virgin’s Robe illustrate all 25 songs (Oikos and kontakion) from the Akathist.

In their painting, the icon painters followed the iconographic definition of mural painting in the Assumption Cathedral. In case of the scenes lacking in the wall painting of the Assumption Cathedral, they turned to the iconographic definition established in Russian painting in the first half of the 17th century. The cycle starts from the south wall with one of the main compositions of the murals—the illustration to the first kontakion (“Unto the Defender General the dues of victory…”)—the Miraculous Rescue of Constantinople from the Invasion. The southern, western and a part of the northern wall illustrate Evangelical events from the Annunciation to the Purification of Our Lady, narrating a detailed story of Maria’s life and the Birth of Christ. This part of the Akathist can be called "historical".

The Annunciation (Oikos 1, 2 and kontakion 2, 3) is glorified in four songs of the Akathist and presented in four paintings on the south wall. The next scenes are The Visitation of St Mary to St Elizabeth and the Reproof of Joseph. Peaceful and solemn subjects The Nativity of Christ and the Adoration of the Magi alternate over the portal with dynamic compositions of the Journey of the Magi and the Return of the Magi. The third tier of the north wall bears the scenes of the Escape to Egypt and the Presentation of Our Lord.

The second part of the Akathist Hymn, which can be called "symbolical", consists of glorification of Our Lady and Jesus Christ, interpreting difficult theological symbols and terms. For example, the theme of Oikos 8—"Wholly present… here below, yet in no way absent from those on high"—is the divine and the human nature of Christ.

The hymn is full of poetic epithets and likenesses borrowed from the Old Testament, praising the Theotokos, such as "A bulwark art Thou to virgins…" and "We behold the holy Virgin, a shining lamp appearing to those in darkness…". These songs are illustrated in a conspicuous place—at the bottom tier of the west wall.

The last verse of the Akathist—the prayer to Our Lady asking for Her intercession—is depicted through the scene of worshipping the Eleusa icon of Our Lady ("O All-Hymned Mother…") on the north wall to the left of the portal.