Church of the Holy Apostles (Thessaloniki)

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The Apostle Church

The Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki ( Greek Ναός Αγίων Αποστόλων ) is a Byzantine church from the 14th century. The church, located at the beginning of Olympou Street near the western city wall, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1988 ( early Christian and Byzantine buildings in Thessaloniki ).

history

The church, originally probably dedicated to the Mother of God (Theotokos Gorgoepikoos), is likely to be part of a larger complex, probably an earlier monastery, whereupon u. a. indicates a cistern in the northwest. The church was built from 1312 to 1315 under the patriarch Niphon I of Constantinople . However, radiocarbon studies indicate that it was not built until 1329. Between 1520 and 1530 the church was converted into a mosque ( Soğuk Su Camii ). The picture decorations were plastered over. From 1926 the church was restored and the frescoes were exposed again. The building was damaged in the 1978 earthquake. In 2002 the mosaics were cleaned.

construction

The church is a cross- domed church with a square core, a central dome supported by four columns with a high drum and four smaller domes in the corners with a narthex in the form of an open vestibule, a three-sided corridor around the core, three apses . The outer walls are adorned with a rich treasure trove of brick decorations.

Furnishing

In the barrel vaults and in the main dome, mosaics from the time of construction from excellent workshops have been preserved. The lower parts of the building are frescoed . The decor shows influence from Constantinople.

Web links

Commons : Church of the Twelve Apostles, Thessaloniki  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ UNESCO World Heritage List - Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika (English)
  2. ↑ Friederike Kyrieeleis, Picture Handbook of Art Monuments Greece I, Deutscher Kunstverlag Munich / Berlin 1982, p. 448

Coordinates: 40 ° 38 ′ 34.2 "  N , 22 ° 56 ′ 15.2"  E