Όσιος Λουκάς Βοιωτίας/ Osios Loukas at Steiri Boiotia

Η κεντρική εκκλησία του μοναστικού συμπλέγματος, το καθολικό, ανήκει στον αρχιτεκτονικό τύπο του ηπειρωτικού οκταγωνικού και θεωρείται το πρότυπο όλων των μεταγενέστερων ναών αυτού του τύπου. Στους οκταγωνικούς ναούς, που κατ'ουσίαν είναι σταυροειδείς ναοί, μόνο η στήριξη του τρούλου είναι οκταγωνική, ενώ ο κεντρικός χώρος κάτω από αυτόν παραμένει τετράγωνος. Το καθολικό του Οσίου Λουκά χαρακτηρίζεται για τον ευρύ τρούλο του (διαμέτρου 9 μ. περίπου) και αντίστοιχα το διευρυμένο ενιαίο τετράγωνο χώρο κάτω από αυτόν. Το βάρος του τρούλου φέρουν οκτώ ογκώδεις πεσσοί, που γεφυρώνονται σε μεγάλο ύψος, από τέσσερα μεγάλα τόξα ανάμεσα σε τέσσερα ημιχώνια.
Ο επισκέπτης του καθολικού εντυπωσιάζεται από τον πλούσιο εσωτερικό διάκοσμο. Συνθέσεις από χρωματιστά μάρμαρα καλύπτουν το δάπεδο του ναού, όπως και τις κατακόρυφες επιφάνειες των τοίχων. Τα λαμπρά ψηφιδωτά που κοσμούν τις ανώτερες επιφάνειες του καθολικού, αποτελούν ένα από τα σημαντικότερα ψηφιδωτά σύνολα της μεσοβυζαντινής τέχνης. Χρονολογούνται γύρω στη δεύτερη και τρίτη δεκαετία του 11ου αι., είναι δηλαδή πρωιμότερα από τα άλλα δύο μεγάλα ψηφιδωτά σύνολα του ελλαδικού χώρου, αυτά της Νέας Μονής Χίου και του Δαφνίου. Στη κόγχη του ιερού απεικονίζεται η Παναγία ένθρονη βρεφοκρατούσα, ενώ στο χαμηλό θόλο πάνω από το ιερό παριστάνεται η Πεντηκοστή. Στο μεγάλο τόξο επάνω από την είσοδο του ιερού εικονίζονται οι δύο αρχάγγελοι Μιχαήλ και Γαβριήλ. Ο χριστολογικός κύκλος αντιπροσωπεύεται με τέσσερις σκηνές στα ημιχώνια (ο Ευαγγελισμός που δεν σώζεται, η Γέννηση, η Υπαπαντή και η Βάπτιση) και με τέσσερις σκηνές από τον κύκλο του Πάθους (ο Νιπτήρας, η Σταύρωση, η Ανάσταση και η Ψηλάφηση του Θωμά).
[πηγή:http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/gh251.jsp?obj_id=1042]

The monastery lies on the west slope of Mt. Helikon, below the acropolis of ancient Steirion. It is enclosed by a wall and comprises two- and three-storeyed blocks of cells, a bell-tower at the SW corner, the Refectory on the south side and the two adjoining churches, at the centre of the enclosure.

The smaller church, dedicated to the Theotocos, was built in the 10th century. It is the earliest known example of the four-column, cross-in-square type, it has a spacious, two-column narthex on the west side and a portico to the west of it. This portico actually connects the two churches. The walls are built in cloisonne masonry and are decorated with rich brick (Cufic) ornaments. The diaconicon and the arched portico between the diaconicon and the pulpit were decorated with beautiful wall paintings slightly later in date (11th-12th century) but traces of earlier frescos have also been revealed.

The famous fresco of Jesus of Navi, discovered in 1965, dates from the 10th century and actually belonged to the facade of this church but was later covered by marble slabs when the wall became an interior wall of the catholicon. The interior of the church is distinguished by the rich sculptured decoration of the templon, the capitals, even the drum of the dome.

The catholicon is the earliest preserved specimen of the octagonal cross-in-square type of church, built in the first half of the 11th century. It has a large, tall cupola with a diameter of 9m. The domed central space is surrounded by two-storeyed constructions which were modelled as cross-vaulted chapels. A two-storeyed narthex was built on the west side. The church was built of large, ancient stone blocks and the external walls are very simple, without brick ornaments.

The walls are veneered with marble slabs on the lower section and decorated with superb mosaics on the upper part and the upper floor. The mosaics represent the more severe and abstracted style of the Middle Byzantine decorative art and date from the first half of the 11th century. The Pantocrator and Archangels in the dome belong to a later phase. The mosaic decoration of the walls was completed by contemporary wall paintings in the chapels of the west side. The marble screen was decorated with icons by Michael Damaskenos, dated to the 16th century.

The catholicon is built over a large crypt, shaped as a cross-in-square church, with groin vaults forming the roof. It is dedicated to Aghia Varvara (St. Barbara) and contains three tombs: the one in the north wall is the tomb of Hossios Loucas. The roof and much of the walls are covered with wall paintings, dated to the first half of the 11th century.

The monastery was founded by the hermit Loucas Stereiotis, who lived in the area from 945 A.D. until the day of his death, in 953 A.D. The church of the Theotocos was built while Loucas was alive. He was declared an Hossios of the Orthodox Church and His relics were cept in the church but were later moved to the crypt below the catholicon when this was built.

The catholicon was damaged by an earthquake in 1593 and its dome collapsed but it was rebuilt. The church of the Theotocos was also damaged by an earthquake in 1790 and was supported in 1848. The monastery again suffered serious damage during bombardments in 1943.

The church of the Theotocos, damaged by an earthquake, was supported as early as 1848. In 1870-71 it was painted and filled with plaster casts which were removed in 1971. The Department of Restorations of the Ministry of Culture started repairs of the catholicon in 1939. The dome was strengthened, the mosaics of the church and narthex were cleaned and the window-frames, which had been broken during the bombardment were replaced. The frescoes of the crypt were cleaned in 1960.
[source: odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/eh251.jsp?obj_id=1042]

Taken in: Ελλάδα / Thessaly and Continental Greece / Distomo-Arachova-Antikyra (show map)

Taken on: May 5, 2017

Tags:

όσιος

Λουκάς

βυζαντινή

βυζαντινό

Ναός

Καθολικό

τρούλος

Παντοκράτορας

προφήτες

άγγελοι

διακόσμηση

ορθομαρμάρωση

μάρμαρο

ψηφιδωτά

χρυσό

αψίδα

κόγχη

Osios

Loukas

Byzantine

Monastery

church

catholikon

marble

octagonal

10th

century

cross-in-square

type

cupola

mosaic

dome

canon

60D

EOS « less

Sets appears in: • 2017/Μάιος

Groups appears in: • FlickrCentral • Canon DSLR User Group more » • Photography • Amateurs • Churches - Please read the rules before posting • Ελληνικά / Greek / Greece • greek churches • **Brilliant~Eye~Jewels** INVITED PICS ONLY! P1/C2 • Ελληνική Όμάδα Flickr • Greece - my love • ☼Greece and other interesting places☼ • GREECE-HELLAS (AND FRIENDS OF GREECE) • Official National Geographic Group • Canon EOS 60D • Orthodox Church Architecture • Canon Greece • Reveal Greece • Visit Greece • Geotag: Greece • Byzantine Architecture [only before 1453 please] • Περιοδικό ΦΩΤΟγράφος • Canon 60d - Greece • EOS Experience • GREECE is... • !*Flickr All Stars*! • Photos only from Greece • The best picture of the world « less

Camera: Canon EOS 60D, f/3.5, 1/30 sec, 18mm, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 60D
Lens:	EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
Aperture:	f/3.5
Exposure Time:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Focal Length:	18mm
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
Show full info

Stats: 4,745 views / 5 comments