Church of St. Athanasius of Mouzaki

Church of St Athanasius of Mouzaki in 2010.

St Athanasius of Mouzaki (Greek: Άγιος Αθανάσιος του Μουζάκη) is a Greek Orthodox church located in Kastoria, Greece.[1][2] It was built in 1386–87 by the house of Muzaka, a noble Albanian family that controlled the city at the time, and dedicated to St. Athanasius[1][2] It is considered one of the most important monuments of 14th century Kastoria and is the last church built in Kastoria before its annexation by the Ottoman Empire.[2]

Decorations

The church is decorated with scenes of saints dressed in Byzantine clothing, a typical feature of Byzantine iconography. An unusual feature of the church is that despite the fact that St Alexander is traditionally not included among the ranks of military saints,[3] the church of St Athanasius of Mouzaki is decorated with a portrait of St Alexander in military clothing. Another feature, atypical in Byzantine iconography, is the depiction of Virgin Mary as a queen.[4]

Legacy

The church influenced greatly the artistic production of Kastoria and the region of Macedonia in the late 14th and early 15th century.[5]

Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agios Athanasios Mouzaki.
  1. 1 2 Facaros, Dana; Theodorou, Linda (2003). Greece. New Holland Publishers. p. 563. ISBN 1-86011-898-4.
  2. 1 2 3 "St Athanasius of Mouzakis" (in Greek). Kastoria City. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  3. ↑ Walter, Christopher (2003). The warrior saints in Byzantine art and tradition. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 245. ISBN 1-84014-694-X.
  4. ↑ Vassilaki, Maria (2000). Mother of God: representations of the Virgin in Byzantine art. Skira. p. 129. ISBN 88-8118-738-8.
  5. ↑ Myrtalē Acheimastou-Potamianou, ed. (1988). Holy image, holy space: icons and frescoes from Greece. Greek Ministry of Culture. p. 194.

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