Church of Saints Hilarion and Barnabas (Peristerona)
The Church of Saints Hilarion and Barnabas (also called Ilarion and Varnabas, Greek Ἅγιοι Βαρνάβας καὶ Ἱλαρίων Agioi Varnavas kai Ilarion ) in Peristerona on Cyprus dates back to the 11th century , like its smaller architectural sister church Agia Paraskevi in Geroskipou . Their plan goes back to the St. John's Church in Ephesus , which was built in Justinian times and follows the given multi-dome type. The appearance of the church is affected by the tower and vestibule elements that were added later .
The patrons of the three-aisled three-apse church must not be confused with its more famous namesakes, the apostles Barnabas and Hilarion of Gaza , who spent his life as a hermit in Paphos . The Peristerona saints, whose relics reached the north coast of Cyprus and were brought to Peristerona by a certain Leontios, lived in Cappadocia at the time of Emperor Theodosius II (401–450 AD) .
- Hilarion and Barnabas
The wooden door of the church is a masterly Byzantine carving. Little has been preserved of the interior of the church, the five domes of which rest on mighty pylons .
- On the north-east pillar, at the height of the iconostasis from the 16th century, a fragment of a Mother of God with Christ from the 12th century has been preserved.
- A depiction of David from the 16th century can be seen on the north-west pillar. Among the icons is a representation of Jesus in the temple from around 1520. The donor Zaphiris kneels between Mary and Simeon, who is holding Jesus in his arms.
- A Mother of God of the Hodegetria type , whose garment is in the style of contemporary Venetian textile work, and a depiction of John the Baptist date from the 17th century .
- The other icons date from the 15th and 16th centuries and show traces of heavy overpainting.
The use of the church at the time of the Count of Jaffa have two grave stones and a Stoup of marble . A stamped medieval metal plate depicting a deer and a Bible printed in Venice in 1604 are also part of the inventory.
The Church has been on the list of candidates for World Heritage in Cyprus since 2004 .
literature
- Andreas Schneider: Cyprus. Archaeological treasures, Byzantine churches and Gothic cathedrals at the intersection of cultures . Ostfildern 2011, pp. 136–139.
Web links
Coordinates: 35 ° 7 '48.7 " N , 33 ° 4' 50.1" E