Acknowledgements

I express my gratitude to the many people who saw me through the writing of this book; to all those who provided support, read, wrote, offered comments, allowed me to quote their remarks and assisted in the editing, proofreading and design. I thank ANU Press for enabling me to publish this book. I sincerely thank Professor Sasha Grishin from The Australian National University for his patience, timely advice and careful attention to countless drafts. In a world of increasingly rapid change and compromise, Sasha is an inspiring example of the traditional values of academic rigour, professionalism and critical enquiry. I feel privileged to have been part of such an academic environment.

I extend my deepest thanks to individuals and institutions that assisted me with this research by offering either guidance or support. I thank the staff at the Byzantine Library at the College of France, as well as those working at Gabriel Millet Archives, Paris, for granting me access to rare bibliographical material. Without their assistance, this research would not have been possible. Also, I extend my gratitude to Dr Catherine de Leve for providing me with networking support around France. My appreciation also goes to Dr Nikolay Nenov, the director of the Rousse Regional History Museum (Bulgaria) for his extraordinary initiative in securing my access to frescoes at the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo. I also thank Professor Emmanuel Mutafov from Bulgaria for his warm hospitality and assistance.

I extend my gratitude to Archbishop Hilarion of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, for arranging permission for me to take photographs of frescoes and icons in the churches of Serbia. Special acknowledgement goes to members of the Macedonian Orthodox Church who assisted me in taking photographs of paintings in many Macedonian churches. I am also grateful to staff of the Museum of Skopje for allowing me to access their permanent exhibition of Byzantine icons. I also feel in debt to Dr Zoja Bojic and her parents for arranging permissions to access collections in Serbia. I thank Frédéric Buret for taking photographs of frescoes on my behalf at the monastery complex of Göreme. I thank Associate Professor Vladimir Strezov, who provided assistance during my fieldwork trip around Europe. He made photographs of frescoes in remote churches of Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Mount Athos. I extend my gratitude to the brotherhood and sisterhood of all monasteries I visited. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the help of the Russian Government in the Kremlin for allowing me to visit their monuments.

I acknowledge my immediate family members, especially my mother Zhana, who assisted with care of my daughters Daria and Nika. Your tremendous help and support during difficult times in my life have ensured I finished my book on time.

Dr Anita Strezova