Kaisariani Monastery

The monastery Kesariani or traditional monastery Kaisariani (Greek Καισαριανή ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on the north side of Mount Hymettus in Attica.

Location

The monastery is located east of the village in the Athens suburb east Kesariani in a valley of Hymettus, surrounded by cypresses, plane trees and pines.

History

In the 11th century, a thanks to the Macedonian dynasty ( 867-1080 ) of the Byzantine emperors cultural heyday of the Byzantine Empire a number of monasteries were built on the slopes of Mount Hymettus. Among them, the monastery Asterion, an exceptionally beautiful building, Attica from a height of 545 meters was surveyed. In the 10th century, also the monastery " St. John Theologos " became " Saint John of the hunters ", also called " philosophers monastery", was founded. Were at the foot of Hymettus on the outskirts of Papagos and the Kloster Karea over the Mesogia level at this time built.

The monastery Kaisariani was the most prestigious and richest of all. Due handsome privileges it possessed land with olive trees, vineyards, beehives and medicinal herb gardens. Its heyday was between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century. In 1204 imputed Pope Innocent III. the monastery Kaisariani the jurisdiction of the Latin Archbishop of Athens. As in 1458, the Ottoman Empire occupied Attica, said to have been presented at the Monastery of the keys to the city Athens to Sultan Mehmed II.

In 1678, Patriarch Dionysus declared IV the monastery as a free and independent from the Metropolitan: His only obligation was to carry out funeral rites. Later, in 1792 Patriarch Neophytos VII abolished the independence of the monastery in a bull; it was back under the supervision of the Metropolitan of Athens and impoverished.

The once famous monastery library, which had probably also documents from ancient libraries, was largely sold to the English.

The monastery

The building of the complex are surrounded by a high wall. The entrance is on the west side. The complex consists of the main church ( the Catholicon ), the refectory, the bathhouse and the cells.

The monastery was built on the ruins of an older building. From the original interior paint nothing is received.

The Catholicon and the bath house date from the 11th century, during the narthex and the bell tower and the chapel Antonio additions from later periods are. The building on the left from the eastern entrance surrounded a source that is covered by a semi-dome.

The Catholicon

The Catholicon is dedicated to Mary in the Temple ( the Assumption of Mary in the Temple ). It is a cross-domed church with elegant proportions. The walls are of dressed stone, which are clothed to the port sides respectively of a thin layer of brick. The window arches are surrounded by brick jewelry.

On the west side of the narthex and a side porch was built with an open bell tower in the 17th century. For thresholds and lintels marble components of older churches were used.

The frescoes

The oldest Freko from the 14th century is located on the southern external wall of the Catholicon. It shows the Mother of God in prayer.

The Church and its narthex are decorated with frescoes, which date from the period of Turkish rule. The wealthy family Venizelos donated the frescos by an inscription 1682 by Ioannis Ypatos painted of the Peloponnese. In the dome Christ is represented as the Pantocrator, the remaining frescoes show, among other things, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Angels and the four evangelists. In the chapel of Maria Platytera is shown with angels on either side of her throne.

The Bath House

The bathhouse of Kaisariani and the bathhouses obtained in Daphni and Dervenossalessi at Kithairon prove that the monks frequently used bathrooms in the 11th century. With the warm water, the cells and the refectory were heated. During the Turkish occupation the bathhouse was converted to an oil press.

In the years 1981 and 1999, parts of the monastery complex, in particular bath house and the refectory was damaged by severe earthquakes.

The refectory

The refectory and the kitchen are located in a separate building on the west side of the wall, opposite the Catholicon. The refectory is a long rectangular vaulted room, which is divided into two parts. The square on the south side of the refectory kitchen with vaulted ceilings and a fireplace. The stove is in the center of the room, surrounded by a stage at the foot of the four walls. The building probably dates from the 16th or 17th century.

The cells of the monks take part along with the Venizelos Tower almost the entire south side of the garden.