Hosios Loukas

Hosios Lukas, Osios Loukas (Greek Όσιος Λουκάς " Blessed Luke " ) or Lukas Monastery of Daphni and Nea Moni is next to one of the most important monasteries in Greece. It is about 20 km east-southeast of Delphi in the prefecture of Boeotia in central Greece. Since 1990 it belongs to the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO

History

In the 10th century the hermit Luke founded (not to be confused with Luke the Evangelist ) on the site of the present monastery hermitage. Well during his lifetime one of the holy Barbara consecrated church was built, which forms the core of today's church of the Panagia. One legend has it that Luke prophetic gifts have owned and have been 941 the reconquest of Crete predicted. When this twenty years later ( after the death of Luke's ) actually occurred, the monastery began to attract pilgrims and was expanded accordingly.

Plant

Core of the monastery are two churches, the Catholicon and the church of the Panagia. The Catholicon, which is the main church dedicated to Luke from the year 1011 a rectangular cross-domed church. The simple exterior walls are made ​​of bricks and ancient stone blocks. The church is topped by a dome decorated with frescoes designed with a diameter of 9 meters. Noteworthy are the mosaics from the 11th century. Below the katholikon is a developed frescoed crypt with the sarcophagus of St. Luke. The smaller and older church of the Panagia is connected by a colonnade directly with the Catholicon. To the two churches are grouped the former refectory, which now houses a museum, the bell tower and the residential wings of the monks.