Prophetes Elias
| Department | Archive |
|---|---|
| Collection | Byzantine Research Fund |
| Reference No. | BRF/01/01/07/219 |
| Level | Item |
| Place |
Prophetes Elias Thessalonike |
| Dates | 1908? |
| Donor/Creator |
Harvey, Mr William |
| Scope and Content | South elevation. This is a preliminary drawing. It is mis-entitled: 'St Elias Salonica - Long Section'. Further annotation in pencil survives. |
| Further information | The church of Prophetes Elias, which stands on an imposing site a short distance above the basilica of Hagios Demetrios in Thessalonike, was the katholikon of a monastic complex which has been identified either with the Nea Moni, a foundation of Makarios Choumnos (1360-70) or more likely with the Akapniou Moni, an imperial foundation of the Palaiologoi. In terms of architecture the church is cross-in-square of the Athonite type, that is, the naos is extended into a triconch with lateral apses (choroi) which had a special function for the requirements of monastic worship and preceded by a lite, an enlarged four-columned narthex which was used for specific monastic services. The arrangement of the walling in horizontal courses of symmetrical carefully cut blocks recalls Constantinopolitan monuments of the same period. However, a closer examination of the building reveals that, in spite of its appearance, the large scale and wealth of exterior decoration, the church was the work of an architect who experimented not always successfully with complex architectural forms and varied material (for example mud have replaced mortar in the building). The church was converted into a mosque during the period of the Ottoman occupation. Although, the interior fresco decoration of the building suffered severe damage during the Arepairs –only tiny fragments survive on the lite walls- the monument would have collapsed if the Turks had not supported it with strong buttresses. |