The monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos
The
Monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos on Patmos is
a unique example of medieval monastic architecture and a place of considerable
religious interest, being one of the largest monasteries in the Aegean. Tradition has it that John, the beloved disciple
of Jesus, was exiled to barren Patmos in around 95 AD, during the persecutions
of Emperor Domitian; it was during his stay on the island that John wrote two
of the religious texts central to Christian faith, the Gospel According to John
and the Apocalypse. Inextricably linked to this tradition is the founding of
the monastery by Blessed Christodoulos Latrinus in 1088.
Having petitioned
Emperor Alexius I Comnenus, he managed to secure a chrysobull granting him the
island and other privileges so as to found a monastery dedicated to the
Evangelist.
The monastery was erected on the summit of the hill, over the
remains of an ancient temple and an early Christian
basilica. Over time
the settlement known as Chora (the island capital) grew up around it, merging
to form a densely built and labyrinthine architectural ensemble.
The monastery complex
is surrounded by an irregularly shaped, many sided medieval wall 15 m in
height. The interior is on several levels, including cell wings, auxiliary
buildings, galleries and chapels dating to the 16th and 17th century, built
around the catholicon as their focal point. The latter is a late 11th
century composite four-column cross-in-square church, with attached chapels
dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Christodoulos. The surviving wall paintings
are fine, rarely encountered depictions of evangelical scenes probably painted
by a Cretan School artist, dating from the second decoration
phase in the early 17th century. The chapel of the Virgin Mary has an important
fresco ensemble displaying the monumental tendency of the late 12th century.
The famed monastery library and sacristy house treasures and heirlooms of inestimable
historical and artistic value, such as rare collections of Byzantine and post-Byzantine
manuscripts, imperial documents, books, icons and miniature works. The Monastery
of Agios Ioannis Theologos on Patmos (an
impressive architectural monument and repository of Byzantine culture), the
Cave of the Apocalypse and Chora (Patmos town)
were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999, as a prominent Greek
Orthodox pilgrimage centre of outstanding architectural interest.
Glossary (7)
chrysobull:
official public document or decree issued by the emperors of Byzantium, with an authenticating gold stamp on the silk band that accompanied it.
Paleo-Christian (early Christian) era:
in Byzantine history, the period that typically starts in 330 AD, when Constantine the Great transferred the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to his newly-founded city of Constantinople, and ends with the death of Justinian in 565.
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.
chapel:
small
sized church, either
independent, belonging
to a religious foundation, or part of
a larger
church.
In Byzantium chapels were often
used for burials.
catholicon:
the main church
of
a monastery.
As a rule
it
was the most imposing one, located in the center of the courtyard
cross-in-square church:
type of church where the central dome is supported by four arches covering the extremities of an equilateral cross. Lateral compartments, covered with small domes or barrel vaults, are formed at the four corners of the cross and thus the church forms a cross inscribed in a square or rectangular area. Externally the sign of the cross is also prominent because of this unique way of covering the roof.
wall paintings or murals:
Painted scenes on a wall or ceiling surface.
Information Texts (1)
Alexius I Comnenus:
Emperor
of Byzantium
from 1081 to 1118, founder of the Comnenian dynasty. Son of John Comnenus and
Anna Dalassene, he was originally a general in the imperial army. Using this
position he led a revolt supported by the army and the aristocracy, which ended
in the capture of Constantinople and his
ascension to the imperial throne on 1 April 1081. The empire Alexius inherited was at a very
critical juncture: the aristocracy were in revolt, the Seljuks had taken over
much of Asia Minor and the capital and the Danubian
provinces were under attack. The raids continued at greater or lesser intensity
over several years. To address these difficulties, Alexius turned to the West,
and signed peace treaties with the Venetians and the Germans. With regard to domestic affairs, he attempted to reform and revitalize
the economy and trade so as to stop deflation of the Byzantine currency, and overhauled
the administration. The first Crusade took place during his reign. Alexius exercised
diplomacy in dealing with the waves of crusaders, providing them with vessels to
cross over to Asia Minor. After extensive
negotiations, the crusader leaders agreed to hand back any lands they might
capture that had previously belonged to the Byzantine
Empire. However, Alexius failed to prevent them capture Antioch and Jerusalem. He died in
1118.
Bibliography (3)
1. Ενημερωτικό φυλλάδιο Αρχοντικού Νικολαΐδη στην Πάτμο, 2005
2. Χατζηδάκης Μ., Εικόνες της Πάτμου, Athens, 1995
3. Αρχαιολογικά Μουσεία και Συλλογές στην Ελλάδα, Αθήνα, 2008
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