Church of the Dormition, Daphni, Greece. (1090-1100)
In the 6th century, a small Christian monastery was
built here, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Dormition = Latin for "to sleep"
refers to ascension to heaven of the Virgin Mary at the moment of death.
It was abandoned during the Slav invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries, then rebuilt on a much grander scale around 1080, when the Byzantine Empire was at its peak. The monastery repeatedly suffered from invaders and earthquakes since its construction. It was given to the Cistercians (a western Catholic order) in 1211. The Cistercian monks, who came from the Abbey of Bellevaux in France, added the cloister and twin arches of the facade in their own Gothic style. Daphni Monastery was a Cistercian monastery for almost 250 years. Two Frankish dukes of Athens, Otho de la Roche and Walter de Brienne, were buried in its church.
It was abandoned during the Slav invasions of the 7th and 8th centuries, then rebuilt on a much grander scale around 1080, when the Byzantine Empire was at its peak. The monastery repeatedly suffered from invaders and earthquakes since its construction. It was given to the Cistercians (a western Catholic order) in 1211. The Cistercian monks, who came from the Abbey of Bellevaux in France, added the cloister and twin arches of the facade in their own Gothic style. Daphni Monastery was a Cistercian monastery for almost 250 years. Two Frankish dukes of Athens, Otho de la Roche and Walter de Brienne, were buried in its church.
After the Ottoman Turks took Athens in 1458, they
returned Daphni to Greek Orthodox monks, but Daphni was not a functioning
monastery during the Turkish occupation; for a time it was used as army
barracks. The monastery was again occupied by Greek Orthodox
monks from the 16th century until the War of Independence, when it was
officially deconsecrated (1821). The church was again used as a barracks, and
later as a lunatic asylum (1883-85).
Art:
Mosaics produced during Byzantium’s second golden age. Daphni preserves traces of 12th and 13th century paintings, while the church has post-Byzantine paintings (17th century).
Scenes from His life were placed at
the upper parts of walls and the drums of the arms of the cross. The lowest
level is occupied by saints. Virgin Mary is placed in the semi- dome of the
apse, as a link between people and God.
The center dome mosaic is Christ as the
Pantocrator = (‘Ruler of the Universe’ or ‘Ruler of All’) but usually applied
Christ in his role as Last Judge of humankind. The dome and apse symbolize heaven,
which is why
Christ the Pantocrator occupies the dome and is surrounded by
angels and prophets.
References:
Kleine, Fred. Gardner's Art through the Ages: A Global History.: A Global History
(pg 330)
I had to do a double-take; at first the outside of the building looked like the ruins of a basilica I saw over in Rome (probably because I was tired, but I digress.)
ReplyDeleteit's interesting seeing a different depiction of Christ than the typical Caucasian/European style we see in Renaissance artwork. he almost looks Middle-Eastern here, with the heavy black beard, moustache and eyebrows. I also wonder if there isn't some sort of defect in the dome to give it that bump that makes it imperfect.