( fl second half of the 12th century-early 13th). Russian painter and priest. The epithet ‘Grechin’, which suggests that Olisey may have been of Greek origin, appeared on three birch-bark texts found on the artist’s estate in Novgorod (nos 502, 549 and 558). He produced icons on commission, as indicated by letters addressed to him: ‘Paint me two six-winged angels on two icons for the top row of a Deësis’ and ‘Be here with the icons of seraphim by St Peter’s Day’. Olisey is now thought to have been the wall painter who decorated the church of the Protective Veil of the Mother of God (1196; destr.) above the gates of the Novgorod kremlin. Numerous objects linked with the painter’s craft and large supplies of paints for use in wall painting were found on the artist’s estate, which may imply that Olisey contributed to the wall paintings (1199; almost all destr. 1941–3) in the Church of the Saviour (Spas) on Nereditsa Hill.