Panagia from Skripou
Panagia of Skripou ( modern Greek Παναγία η Σκριπού ) was the name of a monastery in Athamas, a district of Orchomenos , which was previously called Skripou. The main church of the monastery is one of the most important cruciform church buildings in Greece . The church Koimisis tis Theotokou ( modern Greek Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου = Assumption of Mary ) was probably built as a grave monument of the founder, Protospatharius Leon, in the year 873/874 on the foundations of a previous building from the 5th century.
Monastery and church
The monastery is opposite the archaeological site east of the ancient Acropolis of Orchomenos. In this region Pausanias (9, 38, 1) mentions two sanctuaries, that of the Charites and Dionysus , which have not yet been located. It is believed that they were on the site where the Panagia Monastery of Skripou was built in 873/874. Remains of a building from the Mycenaean period, which can still be seen today, and fragments of two frescoes, probably from the palace of the local prince, were found under the courtyard of the monastery. This is also evidenced by excavations outside the monastery. Parts of an early Christian mosaic were also found inside the church under the floor.
The origin of the monastery name Skripou is uncertain. Presumably it refers to the inscriptions with which the church was provided and goes back to the Latin word scriptus , which means inscription. This name was later transferred to the settlement.
The Panagia Monastery of Skripou was built in the 9th century. Of the initial overall complex, only the three-aisled main church, which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the apostles Peter and Paul , has survived to this day. According to the inscriptions, the north nave is dedicated to Paul and the south to Peter. To the south of the church there are remains of the outbuildings and a well, and to the west is the old gate, in which the spoilage was built.
The church Koimisis tis Theotokou is the most important monument in Greece from the transition period from the vaulted basilica to the cross-domed church and the largest and richest building of this time outside of Constantinople . It is the oldest Byzantine monument in Boeotia . The monastery church is characterized by its size of 22.30 × 18.60 m, the rich marble decorations and the historical significance of the four inscriptions. The inscriptions name the Protospatharios (commander of the imperial guards of the Holy Palace in Istanbul) Leon as the founder of the church. Leon was the owner of the property and built the church in 873/874. The date of construction was clearly indicated on the outside of the apse as 874. The church is cross-shaped with a dome, the arms of the cross protruding slightly at the sides and a narrow vestibule to the west. In contrast to a cross-domed church, the central nave is separated from the side aisles by walls. A lot of old building material (as in many Christian churches of the time) from the nearby archaeological sites was used for the construction. Column drums were also used and even tombstones were used for the corner pillars. This is how unique rare early Christian and pre-Christian works were preserved.
The church was probably built as a funerary monument to the founder, although this was otherwise unusual in Byzantine Greece. The vertical sundial on the south side of the church could be an allusion to eternal life. In any case, the founder of the church wanted the building to “shine every ray of sunshine in a pleasantly beautiful way”.
The archaeological investigations showed that the oldest frescoes date from the 12th century. Restoration work such as cleaning and preserving the frescoes has been carried out since 1930. In 1936 the drum and dome were renewed and in 1939 the tower northwest of the church was restored. The historically interesting building was included in the regional funding program from 1994 to 1999. Within this program, the frescoes were uncovered and preserved and the sculptures cleaned. In 1995 the church was probably arson. The frescoes were badly damaged, especially by soot.
Over the centuries the Koimisis tis Theotokou served as a monastery church. The monastery was eventually abandoned, so that the building now only serves as a parish church. The Assumption of Mary is celebrated here on August 15th, Queen Mary on August 23rd, and on September 10th the day on which, in 1943, Orchomenos and its residents were spared from being pillaged by the German occupying forces thanks to the apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Icon with tanks
An icon inside the church commemorates an alleged incident during World War II . The army followed on 10 September 1943, a group of Greek resistance fighters who were hiding in the monastery of Panagia of Skripou. As German tanks approached Orchomenos, heavy autumn rain set in and softened the ground so much that the tanks got stuck. After the rain had subsided, attempts were made to free the tanks from the morass. However, it began to rain again and the Virgin Mary appeared over the dome of the monastery church. In awe, the German troops withdrew to Levadia and spared Orchomenus.
sundial
The vertical sundial is one of the most beautiful Byzantine sundials in Greece. It is also the oldest medieval vertical sundial in Greece. The archaeologist, Byzantinologist , architect and professor at the National Technical University of Athens and the University of Athens Anastasios Orlandos pointed this out in 1935/1936.
The sundial was placed on a rectangular marble cube 125 cm long, 66 cm high and 35 cm deep. It has only ten hour lines, which are arranged in a semicircle and are provided with the Greek letters Α, Β, Γ, Δ, Ε, F, Ζ, Η, Θ and Ι. A 12 was subsequently scratched on the letter F to indicate that it stands for 12 o'clock. The sundial is no longer functional today because the gnomon was lost over the centuries. Below the sundial, two sculptures of peacocks have been placed on the left and right, the first facing west and the second facing east.
The inscriptions
The main inscription runs in one line around the outer wall of the apse and is carved in eight elongated stones, which are arranged side by side:
ΕΠΗ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΟΥ Κ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΛΕΩΝΤΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΘΗΩΤΑΤΟΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΤΟΝ ΡΩΜΕΟΝ ΠΑΝΑΓΗΑ ΘΕΟΤΩΚΕ ΣΥΝ ΤΟ ΜΟΝΩΓΕΝΗ ΣΟΥ ΙΥΩ ΒΟΗΘΙ ΤΟΥ ΣΟΥ ΔΟΥΛΟΥ ΛΕΩΝΤΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΗΚΟΥ ΠΡΟΤΩΣΠΑΘΑΡΙΟΥ ΚΕ ΕΠΙ ΤΟΝ ΟΙΚΗΑΚΩΝ ΣΥΝ ΤΙ ΣΥΝΕΥΝΩ ΚΕ ΤΥΣ ΙΛΤΑΤΥΣ ΤΕΚΝΥΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΕΚ ΠΟΘΟΥ ΚΕ ΠΗΣΤΕΟΣ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΙΣ ΑΝΑΣΤΙΣΑΝΤΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΣΟΝ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΝΑΟΝ.ΑΜΗΝ.
Translation:
Unter Basileios, Konstantin und Leo, den göttlichsten Kaisern Roms. Geheiligte Mutter Gottes mit deinem eingeborenen Sohn hilf deinem Diener Leon, dem königlichen Protospatharios und Epi-ton-Oikeiakon, der zusammen mit seiner Frau und seinen lieben Kindern wegen seines Wunsches und seinem Großen Glaubens deine heilige Kirche erbaut hat. Amen.
The west side of the vestibule bears a longer inscription in Homeric hexameters :
ΟΥ ΦΘΟΝΟΣ ΟΥΔΕ ΧΡΟΝΟΣ ΠΕΡΙΜΗΚΕΤΟΣ ΕΡΓΑ ΚΑΛΥΨΕΙ
ΣΩΝ ΚΑΜΑΤΩΝ ΠΑΝΑΡΙΣΤΕ ΒΥΘΩ ΠΟΛΥΧΑΝΔΕΙ ΛΗΘΗΣ
ΕΡΓΑ ΕΠΕΙ ΒΟΟΩΣΙ ΚΑΙ ΟΥ ΛΑΛΕΟΝΤΑ ΠΕΡ ΕΜΠΗΣ
ΚΑΙ ΤΟΔΕ ΓΑΡ ΤΕΜΕΝΟΣ ΠΑΝΑΟΙΔΙΜΟΝ ΕΞΕΤΕΛΕΣΑΣ
ΜΗΤΡΟΣ ΑΠΕΙΡΟΓΑΜΟΥ ΘΕΟΔΕΓΜΟΝΟΣ ΙΦΙΑΝΑΣΣΗΣ
ΤΕΡΠΝΟΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΙΛΒΩΝ ΠΕΡΙΚΑΛΛΕΑ ΠΑΝΤΟΘΕΝ ΑΙΓΛΗΝ
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ Δ ΕΚΑΤΕΡΩΘΕΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΩ ΕΣΤΑΤΟΝ ΑΜΦΩ
ΩΝ ΡΩΜΗΣ ΒΩΛΑΞ ΙΕΡΗΝ ΚΟΝΙΝ ΑΜΦΗΚΑΛΥΠΤΕΙ
ΖΩΙΣ ΕΝ ΘΑΛΙΗΙΣΙΙ ΧΡΟΝΩΝ ΕΠ ΑΠΕΙΡΟΝΑ ΚΥΚΛΑ
Ω ΠΟΛΥΑΙΝΕ ΛΕΟΝ ΠΡΩΤΟΣΠΑΘΑΡΙΕ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΕ
ΓΗΘΟΜΕΝΟΣ ΚΤΕΑΤΕΣΣΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΝ ΤΕΚΕΕΣΣΙΝ ΑΡΙΣΤΟΙΣ
ΧΩΡΟΝ ΕΠΙΚΡΑΤΕΩΝ ΤΕ ΠΑΛΑΙΦΑΤΟΥ ΟΡΧΟΜΕΝΟΙΟ.+
Translation:
Weder Neid noch überaus lange Zeit werden die Werke
deiner Mühen, Allerbester, verhüllen im viel fassenden Abgrund des Vergessens,
da die Werke rufen, auch wenn sie durchaus nicht sprechen.
Denn auch dieses von allen besungene Heiligtum
der der Ehe unerfahrenen Mutter, der Gott empfangenden mächtigen Herrscherin,
hast du vollendet, ein liebliches, das von allen Seiten sehr schönen Glanz ausstrahlt.
Zu beiden Seiten von Christus stehen beide Apostel,
deren heiligen Staub die Scholle Roms verhüllt.
Du mögest leben in blühendem Glück über unendliche Jahreskreise,
o vielgelobter Leon, größter Protospatharios,
und dich erfreuen an Besitztümern und besten Kindern,
der du den Raum des altberühmten Orchomenos verwaltest.
The following inscription can be found on the south wall of the Diakonikon:
ΕΚΑΛΗΕΡΓΗΣΕΝ ΤΩΝ ΝΑΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΠΕΤΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΚΟΡΥΦΕΟΥ ΤΩΝ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΩΝ ΛΕΟΝ Ω ΠΑΕΥΦΙΜΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΗΚΟΣ ΠΡΟΤΟΣΠΑΘΑΡΗΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΗ ΤΩΝ ΥΚΗΑΚΩΝ ΥΠΕΡ ΛΥΤΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΦΕΣΕΩΣ ΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΛΩΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΑΜΑΡΤΗΟΝ ΕΠΗ ΙΓΝΑΤΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΟΙΚΟΥΜΕΝΙΚΟΥ ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΟΥ. ΑΜΗΝ.
Translation:
Leon, der achtenswerte Protospatharios und Epi-ton-Oikeiakon baute diese schöne Kirche für den heiligen Petrus, den Apostelführer zur Zahlung und Vergebung seiner Sünden unter dem Ökumenischen Patriach Ignatios. Amen.
There is another inscription on the north wall:
ΕΚΑΛΗΕΡΓΗΣΕ ΤΟΝ ΝΑΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΠΑΥΛΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΟΥ ΛΕΟΝ Ο ΠΑΝΕΥΦΙΜΟΣ ΒΑΣΗΛΗΚΟΣ ΠΡΟΤΟΣΠΑΘΑΡΙΟΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΗ ΤΟΝ ΥΚΙΑΚΟΝ ΥΠΕΡ ΛΥΤΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΦΕΣΕΩΣ ΤΟΝ ΠΟΛΛΩΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΑΜΑΡΤΗΩΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΑΠΟ ΚΤΗΣΕΩΣ ΚΟΣΜΟΥ ΕΞΑΚΙΣΧΗΛΙΟΣΤΟ ΤΡΙΑΚΟΣΗΟΣΤΩ ΟΓΔΟΗΚΟΣΤΩ Β.
Translation:
Leon, der achtenswerte Protospatharios und Epi-ton-Oikeiakon baute diese schöne Kirche für den heiligen Paulus, den Apostel, zur Zahlung und Vergebung seiner Sünden im Jahre 6382 seit der Erschaffung der Welt.
Since it was calculated in the Middle Ages that the creation in 5508 BC Took place, this information corresponds to the year 874 AD. The other information also confirm this date. So ruled Basil I, Constantine and Leo VI. common between 870 and 879. Ignatios I was 847–858 and 867–877 Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople . This means that the church was built between 870 and 877.
literature
- Heinrich Schliemann : Orchomenos . Brockhaus, Leipzig 1881, p. 12, 16, 48-50 ( digitized [accessed on July 28, 2015]).
- Maria Soteriou: Ὁ Ναὸς τῆς Σκριποῦς τῆς Βοιωτίας. In: Archaiologike ephemeris 1931, pp. 119–157.
- AHS Megaw: The Skripou Screen In: Annual of the British School at Athens 61, 1966, pp. 1-32.
- Brian de Jongh: Greece . Prestel, Munich 1974, ISBN 3-7913-0042-3 , pp. 417-419 .
- Demetrios Pallas: Ἡ Παναγία τῆς Σκριποῦς . In: EESM 6, 1976-1977, pp. 1-80.
- Franz N. Mehling (Ed.): Knaurs culture guide in color Greece . Droemer Knaur, Munich / Zurich 1982, p. 419-421 .
- Sotiris Voyadjis: Παρατηρήσεις στην οικοδομική ιστορία της Παναγίας Σκριπούς στη Βοιωτία (Observations on the History of the Construction of the Church of Panagia Skripou) . In: Deltion tes Christianikes Archaiologikes Hetaireias 20, 1998, pp. 111-128 ( digitized version ).
- Amy Papalexandrou: Text in Context. Eloquent Monuments and the Byzantine Beholder . In: Word & Image 17, 2001, pp. 259-283 ( digitized version ).
- Amy Papalexandrou: Conversing Hellenism. The Multiple Voices of a Byzantine Monument in Greece . In: Journal of Modern Greek Studies 19, 2001, pp. 237-254 ( digitized version ).
- Oscar Prieto-Dominguez: On the founder of the Skripou Church: Literary Trends in the Milieu of Photios . In: Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 53, 2013, pp. 166–191 ( digitized version ).
- Andreas Rhoby: Byzantine epigrams on stone . Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 2014, ISBN 978-3-7001-7601-5 , p. 319-324 .
Web links
Remarks
- ^ E. Theodossiou, VN Manimanis: The vertical sundial of the monastery of Panaghia Skripou . In: Proceedings of the 7th Hellenic Astronomy Conference , AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 848, 2006, pp. 934-938.
- ↑ Inscription on the west side of the vestibule in Homeric hexameters , 6th line
Coordinates: 38 ° 30 ' N , 22 ° 59' E