UNIVERSITY OF THE PELOPONNESE NIKOLAOS PANAGOPOULOS (R.N. 1012201702005) DIPLOMA THESIS: RECORDING AND MANAGEMENT OF BYZANTINE AND POST BYZANTINE MONUMENTS IN CENTRAL MESSENIA SUPERVISING COMMITTEE: - Prof. Zacharias Nikos - Ass. Prof. Xanthopoulou Maria EXAMINATION COMMITTEE: - Prof. Zacharias Nikos - Ass. Prof. Xanthopoulou Maria - Dr. Militsi – Kechagia Evangelia ΚΑLΑΜΑΤΑ, JANUARY 2019 Abstract The first Christian community was spotted in Messenia in Koroni, with the foundation of a large early Christian basilica dated back at the 5th century. From this time began the period of christianization of the population. In this thesis the Byzantine churches of the area north of the village of Androusa till the village of Polixni will be presented and examined. Twenty-nine (29) Byzantine and Post Byzantine monuments will be presented. An analytical review of the architecture, history and chronology is given, based on references information, while the problems and solutions for their management wil be presented. The reason for the selection of this study area is, because it was spotted a lack of references information and archaeological research in this specific region. The scope of this thesis is to record, detect, analyze and recognize the problems, and give solutions concerning the Byzantine monuments. At the beginning of the thesis the historical frame will be given focused mainly in the Byzantine periods. Then, the Byzantine churches will be analyzed. Most of the monuments were visited and an approach of the problems of the monuments will be given, in order to extract possible solutions for the management and preservation of the monuments based on new technologies. The study area has a high number of important Byzantine churches, both known and unknown to the scientific community. Further investigation for the preservation and protection of the sites is necessary for the Byzantine Heritage of Messenia. 1 Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor Professor of the University of Peloponnese, Zacharias Nikos for his assistance and guidance during this thesis. Also, I would like to thank the member of the examination committee for their support, Ass. Prof. Xanthopoulou Maria and the Dr. Militsi – Kechagia Evangelia. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their support during my studies. 2 Contents Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1. Historical Frame of Messenia ........................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Early Christianity in Messenia .................................................................................................... 9 2.3. Transitional Period ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.4. Middle Byzantine Period in Messenia ............................................................................................ 12 2.5. Late Byzantine Period in Messenia ................................................................................................ 14 2.6. Post Byzantine Period in Messenia ................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 20 3.0. Byzantine Monuments, Churches of Messenia ......................................................................... 20 3.1. Early Byzantine Period in Messenia .......................................................................................... 20 3.2. Transitional Period .................................................................................................................... 20 3.2.1 Early Christian Churches in Messenia of 5th -6th and Transitional period of 7th -8th centuries .... 21 3.2.1.1. Basilica of Ancient Messene .................................................................................................... 21 3.2.1.2 Basilica of the Theatre ........................................................................................................... 21 3.2.1.3 Settlements in Ancient Messene ................................................................................................ 22 3.3. Middle Byzantine Period ........................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1. Middle Byzantine Churches of 10th- 11th centuries ............................................................... 23 3.3.2. Klisa Koukie Mauromatiou ................................................................................................... 23 3.3.3. Klisa Porti Mauromatiou ....................................................................................................... 23 3.3.4. Saint John Riganas of Ancient Messene ............................................................................... 23 3.4.5. Saint Nickolas of Ancient Messene ....................................................................................... 24 3.3.6. Saint Nickolas of Arsinoi ...................................................................................................... 24 3.3.7. Saint Nickolas Zerbisia ......................................................................................................... 24 3.3.8. Saint Constantine of Steniklaros (Alitourgi) ............................................................................... 24 3.3.9. Saint John of Steniklaros (Alitourgi) ..................................................................................... 25 3.3.10. Saint Athanasios of Steniklaros (Alitourgi) .............................................................................. 25 3.3.11.Panaitsa Steniklarou ................................................................................................................... 25 3.3.12. Taxiarxes Polixnis ..................................................................................................................... 25 3.3.13. Fonemeni (Faneromeni), Polixni .............................................................................................. 26 3.4.1. Middle Byzantine Churches of the 12th century .................................................................... 26 3.4.2. Panagitsa Valiras ................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.3. Zoodoxos Pigi, Samarina....................................................................................................... 27 3.4.4. Saint Athanasios of Kalirroi .................................................................................................. 28 3 3.4.5. Palaia Episkopi Androusas .................................................................................................... 28 3.5. Late Byzantine Period ............................................................................................................... 29 3.5.1. Late Byzantine Churches of the 13th-14th centuries ..................................................................... 30 3.5.2. Andromonastiro ........................................................................................................................... 30 3.5.3. Saint Lazarus near Andromonastiro Monastery .................................................................... 33 3.5.4. Saint Vlasios of Valyra .......................................................................................................... 33 3.5.5. Saint George of Androusa ..................................................................................................... 33 3.5.6. Saint Spyridon of Zerbisia ..................................................................................................... 34 3.5.7. Saint Aikaterini of Lampaina ................................................................................................ 34 3.5.8. Vraxopanaitsa ........................................................................................................................ 35 3.6. Post Byzantine Monasteries in Messenia .................................................................................. 35 3.6.1. Old Voulkano Monastery ...................................................................................................... 36 3.6.2. Frescos of the Katholikon, Iconographic Themes ................................................................. 36 3.6.3. New Voulkano Monastery ..................................................................................................... 41 3.6.4. Metoxia – Dependencies – Land of the Monastery ............................................................... 43 3.6.5. Taxiarxes of Meligalas .......................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 4 ............................................................................................................................................... 44 4.1. Proposals for Preservation and Management of Byzantine Monuments