The Iliyanski Monastery was built at the end of XVI c. and the beginning of XVII c. Only the eastern part of the present-day church has survived. The original decoration of the church is from the same period. From this period are also all the mural paintings in all the churches of Sofia District. Stylistically and thematically they look like the decorations of the Kurilski, Seslav, Eleshnishki and other monasteries and are related to the art and influence of Pimen Zograf. There are three periods of painting in the church. The first period is related to its construction, the second and the third - to its widening at the end of XVII and XIX c. The initial mural paintings were whitewashed and we can judge about them from the little fragments that are clear. The third period of the decoration is from 1832 which is understood by an inscription in the church. Most probably the artist who did it is Toma Vishanov from the Bansko school. He is also the author of the decoration of the "Pokrov Bogorodichen" church in the Rila Monastery. In the mural paintings from 1832 one can discern the strife for realistic representation of the figures and objects with a bit dry colors.
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Icon of the Virgin Eleusa
