The basilica
The ruins
of the Byzantine
Episcopal church
of Servia, known
as the Basilica of
the Catechumens
or
Saranta Portes
(“Forty Doors”), lie in the northwest corner of
the lower city,
inside the fortified walls.
This is a
three-aisled
basilica
with a narthex,
semicircular
apse and
raised
nave
with a
saddle
roof, while
the side aisles and the narthex
have lean-to roofs.
The church combines
elements from Hellenistic
and Eastern style basilicas, and was founded
shortly
after 1000
AD.
Sections of the wall paintings in the interior still survive; on the basis of stylistic and
iconographic
features,
these dated to
the 12th,
13th
and
15th-16th
century
respectively.
The
painting preserved
on
the south wall
of
the
nave
bears a
dedicatory
inscription
to Bishop
Michael
of Servia,
according to which the church was dedicated to Agios
Demetrios
by the late
12th
century, if
not earlier.
Glossary (5)
basilica:
type of large church, divided internally into three or more naves. The central nave was usually covered by a raised roof with windows that illuminated the space.
catechumen:
term used during the early Christian period to indicate a person not yet baptized. Catechumens were not allowed to attend the sacrament of the Eucharist; during the service they had to remain in the narthex, outside the main body of the church.
three nave basilica:
a basilica with three naves.
narthex:
oblong reception area
extending
along
the western side
of a basilica. Originally the east portico
of the atrium,
it was later
incorporated into the
church, and served
as a waiting area for catechumens, who were not allowed to
attend the Divine
Liturgy.
wall paintings or murals:
Painted scenes on a wall or ceiling surface.
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Bibliography (3)
1. Καραγιάννη Φ., Οι Βυζαντινοί οικισμοί στη Μακεδονία μέσα από τα αρχαιολογικά δεδομένα (4ος – 15ος αιώνας), Thessaloniki, 2010
2. Ξυγγόπουλος Α., Τα Μνημεία των Σερβίων, Athens, 1957
3. Τσιλιπάκου Α, Σέρβια. Μια βυζαντινή καστροπολιτεία, Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού, Ταμείο Αρχαιολογικών Πόρων και Απαλλοτριώσεων, Athens, 2002
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