"The Sword Bearer of Wisdom: The Young Archimandrite", acrylic on canvas panel, Maxim Bishop, 2025

This painting depicts the young Archimandrite Nikifor Dučić—monk, historian, soldier, and scholar—emerging from the rugged land of Herzegovina, sword in hand, striding through history. From monastic school to the battlefield, from the Cetinje Seminary to the Sorbonne, from parliament to the National Library, his life was a journey of faith and nationhood. The sword symbolizes struggle; the unseen book, wisdom. Together they reflect his mission: to unite, to enlighten, and to defend.