DAPHNI MONASTERY
Go there and contact
Monastery housing the first church with a very large dome.
History. The monastery is located on the ancient Sacred Way, on the former site of the temple of Daphnian Apollo. The first church was built in the5th century, but the one we see today dates from the 11th century. The cistern, the cells and the refectory also date from the same period.
Visit of the church. The church is octagonal in shape and has a very large dome that covers it almost entirely, giving a beautiful impression of unity and space. In this dome is represented Christ Pantocrator, surrounded by prophets: Moses, Elijah, Ezekiel, Jonah... Note the quality of the line and the drapes of Christ in particular. In the narthex, the second room after the entrance, one can recognize, on the right, the Presentation of the Virgin and, on the left, the Last Supper, the Betrayal of Judas and, opposite, the Washing of the Feet. In the nave, the main hall, we can see scenes as well known in the world of Byzantine mosaics as in Ossios Loukas. The four triangles below the dome represent, in a clockwise direction: the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Baptism and the Transfiguration. The chapel on the right shows, on the left, the Magi and, on the right, the Disbelief of Thomas and the Presentation in the Temple. The chapel on the left presents, on the left, the Palms and the Resurrection of Lazarus and, on the right, the Birth of the Virgin and the Crucifixion. This work remains one of the most beautiful and best preserved of Byzantine art.
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on DAPHNI MONASTERY
