The core of the composition is the depiction of the fiery stream (Daniel 7:10) typical of Byzantine and Old Russian representations of the Last Judgement and representations of “the snake of ordeals” that are found in the Russian Last Judgement scenes from the end of the 15th century. The feature of the Ferapontov fresco is the retained rings symbolizing ordeals and “ the snake” turned into a serpentine stream of blue colour, possibly symbolizing the clean river of “water of life’ flowing from the God’s throne and the Lamb in heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the righteous.
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