Agios Ioannis Eleimonas (Lygourio)

View from the north of the church

Church iconostasis

Frescoes on the south wall

The church of Agios Ioannis o Eleimonas ( Greek Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Ελεήμονας ) is in the Greek town of Lygourio on a square south of the main street Leoforos Asklepiou. It is a two - column cross- domed church with three naves and a central apse . It is dedicated to St. John the Almsgiver and is the oldest church in the area.

history

The church was built in the late 11th or early 12th century. The dome was originally round. During the 12th century the narthex was added and the frescoes were put on. The construction is possibly the catholicon of a monastery. Remains of Middle Byzantine walls in the immediate vicinity at least suggest this. The church has undergone numerous alterations over the centuries and was later damaged by an earthquake. During the second Venetian rule (1685–1715) it received its current appearance. The original entrance from the north was walled up and the dome was rebuilt in an octagonal shape.

In 1972, Agios Ioannis Eleimonas was explored by Charalambos Bouras. In the early 21st century, the church was in disrepair. Therefore, a study was commissioned in 2008 to determine the measures taken to restore the church. This study was completed in 2010 and from 2011 to 2012 the church was restored under the direction of the Greek architect Stavros V. Mamaloukos. The north entrance was also reopened.

description

Most of the original masonry has preserved the eastern part and parts of the southern and northern parts. The church was partly built from ancient marble blocks and bricks. Limestone blocks were also used. Cloisonné masonry also occurs in places . There are two inscriptions on the outer walls. In the south the edge of a marble block is labeled and mentions a certain Stefanos. A door threshold was built into the north wall to the right of the door. On the raised part is the following inscription: O God, help your servant Theofylaktus, the builder of the island of Kea . It is possible that this Theofylactus was the owner of the church.

Today's main entrance is in the west. A marble cross is built into the wall to the right of the entrance. After entering, you first come to the narthex. Here on the east side there is a picture showing three ships carved into the wall and there are remains of fresco and plaster. The two pillars that support the dome are probably not made of antique building material, but were specially made for the construction of the church. Remains of frescoes can also be seen in Noas .

literature

Richard Speicher: Peloponnese. 2nd Edition. W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart / Berlin / Cologne 1980, ISBN 3-17-010031-9 , pp. 184-185
Petros Sarantakis: Argolida, Churches & Monasteries. A humble pilgrimage in sacred places. Athens 2007, ISBN 978-960-91420-4-5 , pp. 118-120

Web links

Commons : Agios Ioannis Eleimonas - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Χαράλαμπος ΜΠΟΥΡΑΣ: Ο Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Ελεήμων Λιγουριού Αργολίδος (πίν 1-6.) In Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας , 7, 1-30. ( online )

37.61171 23.044803Coordinates: 37 ° 36 ′ 42.2 " N , 23 ° 2 ′ 41.3" E

[1] Χαράλαμπος ΜΠΟΥΡΑΣ: Ο Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Ελεήμων Λιγουριού Αργολίδος (πίν 1-6.) In Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας , 7, 1-30. ( online )