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Churches of Mystras
Cathedral of Agios Demetrios Church of Evangelistria Church of Saints Theodore Hodegetria-Aphendiko (Annunciation) Church of Agios Nikolas Church of Agia Sophia Monastery Church of Panagia Pantanassa Monastery Church of Panagia Peribleptos Taxiarchs or Archangels (not shown) Church of Agios Georgios Agios Christopher (not shown) Agia Kyriake (not shown) |
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The Cathedral of Agios Demetrios (in the Metropolis)
The Cathedral of Agios Demetrios is the oldest church in Mystras, founded in 1270. It is situated in the northeast section of the lower city close to the main gate and within the assembly of buildings known as the Metropolis.
Accroding to Manolis Chatzidakis in his book Mystras: The Medieval City and the Castle, the main part of the church was built by Bishop Eugeniost, the narthex of the chruch by Bishop Nikephorus (of Crete) and the wall paintings attributed to Bishop Theodosius. We do know that this church was the ecclesiastical center of Mystras. The church is built as a three-aisled basilica, with a bell tower. Over time the church changed from three barrel-vaulted aisles to ground floor basilica with a second story of four vaults and five domes. The exterior style is known as cloisonné masonry-- blocks of stone surrounded by rows of bricks. As with the city of Thessoloniki, the church is dedicated to Agios Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessoloniki.
The church complex houses a Women's Galery and beautiful museum. The museum has become a repository for the Byzantine relics from Sparta, Mystras and other parts of Greece.
The interior frescoes date from the late 13th to the early 14th centuries. Though they were not well preserved, recent restorations highlight three artistic different schools according to Chatzidakis.
Accroding to Manolis Chatzidakis in his book Mystras: The Medieval City and the Castle, the main part of the church was built by Bishop Eugeniost, the narthex of the chruch by Bishop Nikephorus (of Crete) and the wall paintings attributed to Bishop Theodosius. We do know that this church was the ecclesiastical center of Mystras. The church is built as a three-aisled basilica, with a bell tower. Over time the church changed from three barrel-vaulted aisles to ground floor basilica with a second story of four vaults and five domes. The exterior style is known as cloisonné masonry-- blocks of stone surrounded by rows of bricks. As with the city of Thessoloniki, the church is dedicated to Agios Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessoloniki.
The church complex houses a Women's Galery and beautiful museum. The museum has become a repository for the Byzantine relics from Sparta, Mystras and other parts of Greece.
The interior frescoes date from the late 13th to the early 14th centuries. Though they were not well preserved, recent restorations highlight three artistic different schools according to Chatzidakis.
