Panagia Kontariotissa
Panagia Kontariotissa or Kountouriotissa (Greek: Παναγία Κονταριώτισσα or Κουντουριώτισσα), formally the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Ιερός Ναός Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου), is a very well preserved Byzantine monument in Pieria, Greece. "Kontariotissa" refers to the name of the modern community that originated near the church.[1]
Location
On a hill on the northwestern outskirts of the village Kontariotissa, about 6.5 kilometers southwest of Katerini.
The church
Judging by the shape (morphology) of the building, it was built at the time of the Byzantine Iconoclasm or earlier.[2] The construction is dated to the 7th century, structural changes took place in the 11th century and in the 15th century the building was restored. Parts of the exterior wall show various styles of stonework. The construction of the church is said to be related to the simultaneous destruction and abandonment of ancient Dion.[3]
The building has a cylindrical dome supported by four round pillars and has a chapel in the north and south. The apse, delimited by a carved wooden iconostasis, in the eastern part of the church, is bounded by a three-part window. Apse, dome and parts of the walls are decorated with murals. Nothing is left of the original decor, the visible frescoes date back to the 15th century. Some of the terracotta floor tiles are labeled "Dion". The early parts of the structure are similar to the basilica of Agia Sophia in Thessaloniki.[4] Similar features were found in other Greek churches of the 8th and 9th centuries. Possibly the church was used as a monastery church.
See also
Literature
- Helen Glykatzi, The Splendour of Orthodoxy: 2000 years history, monuments, art, Volume 2, Ekdotike Athenon, Dezember 2000, ISBN 960-213-399-6
- Ikonoklasmus: Tania Velmans (Hrsg.): Ikonen: Ursprung und Bedeutung. Belser, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-7630-2405-0
- S.Curcic, Architecture in the Balkans. From Diocletian to Suleyman the Magnificent, Yale University Press, New Haven and London 2010, ISBN 978-0300115703
Sources
- BΥΖΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑΣ ΚΟΥΝΤΟΥΡΙΩΤΙΣΣΗΣ - ΚΟΝΤΟΥΡΙΩΤΙΣΣΗΣ, Efi Doulgkeri, Archaeologist, 27. Ephorate, Department Byzantine Monuments, Katerini, Greece
- Α.Μέντζος, Η εκκλησιαστική αρχιτεκτονική της Πιερίας στην πρώϊμη βυζαντινή περίοδο, Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο "Η Πιερία στα Βυζαντινά και Νεώτερα χρόνια 1, Θεσσαλονίκη 1985, pages 160-161.
References
- ^ "Greece > Destinations > Macedonia > Pieria > Kontariotissa".
- ^ Byzantine Macedonia, Art Architecture Music Hagiography, edited by John Burke and Roger Scott, Melbourne 2001, Aristotle Mentzos, page 9, ISBN 1-864465--49-2
- ^ Byzantine Macedonia, Art Architecture Music Hagiography, edited by John Burke and Roger Scott, Melbourne 2001, Aristotle Mentzos, page 9 and 10, ISBN 1-864465--49-2
- ^ "Churches in Thessaloniki".
- v
- t
- e
- Achaea Province
- Theme of the Aegean
- Crete
- Theme of Hellas
- Theme of Samos
- Macedonia Province
- Theme of Macedonia
- Theme of Strymon
- Theme of Thessalonica
- Theme of the Peloponnese
- Theme of Cephallenia
- Theme of Nicopolis
- Sclaviniae
- Melingoi and Ezeritai
- Tsakonia
- Great Vlachia
- Justinian I
- Heraclius
- Justinian II
- Irene of Athens
- Danielis
- Nikephoros I
- Basil I
- Nikephoros II Phokas
- Basil II
- Nikephoros Melissenos
- Michael Choniates
- Leo Sgouros
- Leo Gabalas
- Michael I Komnenos Doukas
- Theodore Komnenos Doukas
- Demetrios Chomatenos
- John Apokaukos
- Michael II Komnenos Doukas
- Michael VIII Palaiologos
- John I Doukas of Thessaly
- Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas
- Thomas I Komnenos Doukas
- Gregory Palamas
- Demetrios Kydones
- Catalan Company
- Nicholas Orsini
- Andronikos Asen
- John II Orsini
- Andronikos III Palaiologos
- Michael Monomachos
- John Angelos
- Stephen Gabrielopoulos
- Nikephoros II Orsini
- Manuel Kantakouzenos
- Simeon Uroš
- Thomas Preljubović
- Esau de' Buondelmonti
- Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos
- Theodore II Palaiologos
- Gemistos Plethon
- Constantine XI Palaiologos
- Demetrios Palaiologos
- Thomas Palaiologos
- Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy
- Byzantine scholars in Renaissance
- Historians: Niketas Choniates
- George Akropolites
- Nicephorus Gregoras
- John Scylitzes
- Eustathius of Thessalonica
- Michael Glykas
- Anna Komnene
- Joannes Zonaras
- George Kodinos
- George Sphrantzes
- Persecution of paganism
- Barbarian invasions
- Under the Heraclian dynasty
- Byzantine Iconoclasm
- Siege of Thessalonica (676–678)
- Siege of Patras (805 or 807)
- Arab–Byzantine wars
- Macedonian Renaissance
- Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
- East-West Schism
- Seljuq campaigns in the Aegean
- Byzantine–Norman wars
- Sack of Thessalonica (1185)
- Fourth Crusade
- Battle of Klokotnitsa
- Battle of Pelagonia
- Under the Palaiologos dynasty
- Reconquest of Constantinople
- Battle of Prinitza
- Battle of Makryplagi
- Battle of Neopatras
- Battle of Pharsalus (1277)
- Battle of Demetrias
- Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328
- Hesychast controversy (Palamism)
- Byzantine–Genoese War (1348–1349)
- Zealots of Thessalonica
- Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
- Byzantine–Ottoman Wars
- Siege of Thessalonica (1422–1430)
- Battle of the Echinades (1427)
- Morea revolt of 1453–1454
- Ottoman conquest of the Morea
- Acrocorinth
- Angelokastro (Corfu)
- Athens
- Castle of Chios
- Church of the Parigoritissa
- Didymoteicho Fortress
- Feraklos Castle
- Gardiki Castle
- Hexamilion wall
- Hosios Loukas
- Kassiopi Castle
- Meteora
- Mount Athos
- Monastery of Saint John the Theologian
- Monemvasia
- Mystras
- Nea Moni of Chios
- Old Metropolis of Veria
- Panagia Episkopi
- Panagia Kontariotissa
- Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki
- Panagia Ekatontapiliani
- Patras Castle
- Porta Panagia
- Saints Theodoroi, Serres
- Trikala Castle
40°13′47″N 22°27′12″E / 40.229722°N 22.453333°E / 40.229722; 22.453333