The church of Christos Elkomenos
Dedicated
to the name of Christ, the cathedral of Monemvasia dominates the central square
in the fortified town. Tradition associates the church with Emperor Andronicus
II Palaeologus. In an impressive chrysobull issued in 1301, which relates
to the Metropolis of Monemvasia and is now held in the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens, Andronicus II Palaeologus is shown
offering the imperial document itself to Christ, probably as patron of the
city. Yet the church is definitely older - Nicetas Choniates (12th c.) relates
that Emperor Isaac II Angelos (1185-1195) removed the icon of Christ Elkomenos (Christ in chains) from the church
and moved it to Anaplous Monastery near Constantinople. The
church is a three-nave domed basilica with three semicircular apses
to the east and a narthex to the west. The longitudinal naves are
divided by rows of piers covered with domes, while the course of the central higher
nave is punctuated by a newer dome. Inside the semi-cylindrical sanctuary
apse there is large semicircular synthronon and bishop’s throne.
The
present day form of the church is the result of alterations over various different
periods. Judging from the arches, the synthronon and the sculptures from the
same period dotted around the church, the initial building phase probably dates
back to Early Christian times. The chapel of St. John on the south side dates to the
Middle Byzantine period, in the 11th or 12th century. The south wall of the
church and some of the walls in the chapel are built of sandstone cloisonné
masonry decorated with dogtooth
courses. The marble sculptures above the west door of the church have been dated
to this phase. According to a now lost inscription, George Kouigkydos or Kougkydas
built the buttresses on the south wall in 1538. The dome and the narthex
were added in 1697. Repairs were carried out over the following centuries (18th-20th
c.); the early 20th century bell tower is the latest addition.
The
interior decoration is post-Byzantine, dating to the 17th and 18th
century. The marble sculptures now surviving around the monument or immured in
it date to Early Christian and Byzantine times. The marble templon was
constructed in 1901 in replacement of an older wooden one, now in the church of
the Virgin Mary Mirtidiotissa.
Following
a series of misadventures, an exquisite icon of the Crucifixion regarded as one
of the most important from the Palaeologan period has now returned to the
church. It was stolen in early 1979. When found cut into pieces it was sent for
restoration to the Byzantine
Museum in Athens, where it remained.
This unique work of art from the second half of the 14th century was
recently returned and placed in St.
John’s chapel.
Glossary (10)
chrysobull:
official public document or decree issued by the emperors of Byzantium, with an authenticating gold stamp on the silk band that accompanied it.
basilica:
type of large church, divided internally into three or more naves. The central nave was usually covered by a raised roof with windows that illuminated the space.
narthex:
oblong reception area
extending
along
the western side
of a basilica. Originally the east portico
of the atrium,
it was later
incorporated into the
church, and served
as a waiting area for catechumens, who were not allowed to
attend the Divine
Liturgy.
dome:
hemispherical vault resting on a cylindrical or polygonal drum. Widely used in Christian church architecture.
conch (Sanctuary niche):
Niche
in the eastern end
of a basilica. Semicircular on the inside, with a horseshoe shaped, rectangular or polygonal exterior.
synthronon:
semicircular stone or marble tiered structure of benches within the apse of early Christian churches, serving as a seat for the clergy. The episcopal throne was placed at the center.
Paleo-Christian (early Christian) era:
in Byzantine history, the period that typically starts in 330 AD, when Constantine the Great transferred the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to his newly-founded city of Constantinople, and ends with the death of Justinian in 565.
chapel:
small
sized church, either
independent, belonging
to a religious foundation, or part of
a larger
church.
In Byzantium chapels were often
used for burials.
dogtooth, dentil, saw-tooth or course:
ceramic decorative elements that can be oblong or meet along the crowning of the roof, like frames surrounding windows. Can be single or double.
altarscreen or templon:
screen separating the
altar area
from the
rest of the
church. This
can be
of marble
or
wood,
adorned with
wall paintings
and icons depicting Christ,
the Virgin Mary, St. John
the Baptist,
the saint to
whom the church is consecrated,
the Apostles
and other saints.
Information Texts (1)
The city:
Constantinople, the capital city of the Byzantine
Empire, was built on the site of the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium, on the
triangular peninsula formed by the Golden Horn,
the Bosporus and the Sea
of Marmara. This was an excellent location that controlled trade
routes linking the Aegean to the Black Sea. Emperor Constantine founded Constantinople
in 330 AD as a city to rival Rome
in splendour, wealth and power. The city grew fast, leading to problems of
space and facilities, so Theodosius I extended it to the west by building new
strong walls that protected Constantinople
until the end of the Byzantine Empire.
The
city was laid out after Rome.
A main road, the Mese Odos, linked the palace to the Golden
Gate. On this road was the Forum, a circular plaza with a statue
of Constantine
mounted on a column, surrounded by public buildings. Theodosius I and Arcadius later
built more forums decorated with their own statues.
Following
the Nika riots in the 6th century, Justinian adorned Constantinople
with magnificent edifices, palaces, baths and public buildings. This time also
saw the construction of Agia Sophia (the Holy Wisdom), the church which served
as the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate throughout the Byzantine period.
During
the 7th and 8th centuries Constantinople faced
major problems that threw it into disarray: attacks by the Avars (a siege in
674) and Arabs (attacks in 674 and 717-718); natural disasters (a powerful,
destructive earthquake in 740); and epidemics (plague in 747). Limited building
activity resumed in the 8th and 9th century, mainly concentrated on
strengthening the city's fortifications.
With
the recovery of the Byzantine Empire from the
9th to the 11th century, Constantinople became
the most populated city in Christendom; the majority of inhabitants were
Greek-speaking, but many other ethnic groups lived alongside them, such as
Jews, Armenians, Russians, Italians merchants, Arabs and mercenaries from Western Europe and Scandinavia. Many public, private and church-owned buildings were erected at the time, with
an emphasis on establishing charitable institutions such as hospitals, nursing
homes, orphanages and schools. Higher education flourished, thanks to the care
of the state and the emergence of important scholars. This renaissance lasted
until the mid-11th century, when economic problems due to poor management set
in, compounded by the adverse outcome of imperial operations beyond the borders.
The
Crusaders left Constantinople entirely
unscathed when first passing through, but in the Fourth Crusade of 1204 the
Franks conquered and ransacked the city, slaughtering those inhabitants they
did not take prisoner or drive out. In 1261 the city was retaken by Michael
VIII Palaeologus, who rebuilt most of the monuments and the walls but proved
unable to restore the city to its former splendour and glory. Enfeebled as it
was, the empire was incapable of checking the advance of the Ottomans, and in
1453 Constantinople finally fell into their
hands.
The fall signalled the end of the empire. Nevertheless, the Byzantine intellectual
tradition remained significant, as many scholars settled in the Venetian dominions
of Crete and the Peloponnese,
as well as in European countries, conveying Greek learning to the West.
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