A contribution to the study of the “Athonite” church type ... · PDF...

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39 To the memory of professor Paul Mylonas The recent study of the history and architecture of the Vato- pedi monastery’s katholikon, initially built as a cross-in- square – composite four-column type church with lateral apses (“choroi”) and a two-storey narthex, can serve as a secure base for the study of the so-called “Athonite” church type, which in all likelihood had been already completely formed in Constantinople or in the area under its inuence, before its architectural plan was applied on Athos. Keywords: Byzantine architecture, “Athonite” church type, Mount Athos, katholikon A. During the recent study of the history and archi- tecture of the Vatopedi monastery’s katholikon 1 it became evident that the main church of the building complex, the katholikon” par excellence, was built initially as a cross- in-square – composite four-column type church with lateral apses (“choroi”) and a two storey narthex (gs. 1–2). It can thus serve as a secure base for the study of the so-called “Athonite” Church Type, whose it has long been considered a prime example. 2 B. The study of the church type, established to be called “Athonite” has a long history. The rst attempts to determine and describe its characteristics and clarify its origin and evolu- A contribution to the study of the “Athonite” church type of Byzantine architecture* Stavros Mamaloukos** University of Patras UDC 726.5.033(495.631) 726.5.01 DOI 10.2298/ZOG1135039M Оригиналан научни рад tion were made about one century ago. These were based on exceptionally poor data: elementary and frequently inaccurate drawings, insufcient or completely inexistent research on the building history of the, often composite and complicated, church building complexes and on decient or inexistent com- parative material. Naturally these data frequently led research into wrong directions. Furthermore, many serious problems in the study of the type were caused by the prevailing methodol- ogy of architectural history itself. Let it be noted that many of the misunderstandings yielded by the above mentioned condi- tions were inherited to more recent research, giving rise to doubts and almost insurmountable problems. Many scholars have referred to the “Athonite” type in their studies of monuments on Mount Athos and else- where or in text books on Byzantine architecture. Among them are A. Choisy, 3 H. Brockhaus, 4 N. P. Kondakov, 5 J. Strzygowski, 6 G. Millet, 7 O. Wulff, 8 G. Sotiriou, 9 F. W. Hasluck, 10 A. Xyngopoulos, 11 A. Orlandos, 12 E. Weigand, 13 R. Krautheimer, 14 Sl. Nenadović, 15 C. Mango, 16 G. Deme- trokallis, 17 N. Nikonanos, 18 I. Papagelos, 19 P. Vocotopoulos, 20 * The following text is a reevaluated and completed version of a part from the chapter in the author’s doctoral thesis dealing with typology issues in the katholikon of the Vatopedi Monastery (v. n. 1). ** [email protected] 1 S. Mamaloukos, Το Καθολικό της Μονής Βατοπεδίου. Ιστορία και Αρχιτεκτονική, Athens 2001, 138–152. 2 P. Mylonas, Le plan initial du catholicon de la Grande-Lavra au Mont Athos et la genèse de type du catholicon athonite, CA 32 (1984) 102. 3 A. Choisy, L’art de bâtir chez les Byzantins, Paris 1883, 130. 4 H. Brockhaus, Die Kunst in den Athos-Klöstern, Leipzig 1891, 15–32. 5 N. P. Kondakov, Pami ͡ atniki khristianskogo iskusstva na Afone, Sankt-Peterburg 1902, 26–31. 6 J. Strzygowski, Kleinasien, ein Neuland der Kunstgeschichte, Leipzig 1903, 148, 234; idem, Die Baukunst der Armenier und Europa, Wien 1918, 770. 7 G. Millet, Recherches au Mont-Athos, Bulletin de Correspond- ance Hellénique 29 (1905) 55–141. 8 O. Wulff, Altchristliche und byzantinische Kunst, Leipzig 1914, 471–472. 9 G. Sotiriou, Το Άγιον Όρος, Athens 1916; idem, Χριστιανική και Βυζαντινή Αρχαιολογία, 1: Χριστιανικά κοιμητήρια Εκκλησιαστική αρχι- τεκτονική, Athens 1942, 458–461. 10 F. W. Hasluck, Athos and its Monasteries, London 1924, 98–99. 11 Α. Xyngopoulos, Τα βυζαντινά και τουρκικά μνημεία των Αθη- νών, in: Eυρετήριον των Μεσαιωνικών Μνημείων της Ελλάδος 2 (Athens 1929) 77. 12 Α. Orlandos, Η επί της Οθρυος Μονή της Αντινίτσης, Επετηρίς της Εταιρείας Βυζαντινών Σπουδών 7 (1930) 378–379, idem, Ο Άγιος Δη- μήτριος της Βαράσοβας, Αρχείον Βυζαντινών Μνημείων Ελλάδος 1 (1935) 110; idem, Η επί της Πίνδου ιερά μονή Κορώνης, Επετηρίς της Εταιρείας Βυζαντινών Σπουδών 15 (1939) 407–408. 13 F. Dölger, E. Wiegand, A. Deindl, Mönchland Athos, München 1943, 110. 14 R. Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, Harmondsworth 1981, 398–399. 15 S. Nenadović, Architektura Hilandara. Crkve i paraklisi, Hilan- darski zbornik 3 (1974) 199, 201. 16 C. Mango, Byzantine Architecture, New York 1976, 216. 17 G. Dimitrokallis, Οι σταυροειδείς εγγεγραμμένοι ναοί της Σικε- λίας και Κάτω Ιταλίας, in: idem, Contribution à l’étude des monuments byzantins et médiévaux d’Italie, Athénes 1971, 101–103. 18 Ν. Nikonanos, Βυζαντινοί ναοί της Θεσσαλίας από το 10 ο αιώνα ως την κατάκτηση της περιοχής από τους Τούρκους το 1393, Athens 1979, 151–152. 19 Ι. Papagelos, Ο αρχιτεκτονικός όρος «χορός» και ο Όσιος Αθανά- σιος ο Αθωνίτης, 5° Συμπόσιο Βυζαντινής και Μεταβυζαντινής Αρχαιολο- γίας και Τέχνης, Athens 1985, 73–74. 20 P. Vocotopoulos, Οι μεσαιωνικοί ναοί της Θεσσαλονίκης και η θέση τους στα πλαίσια της βυζαντινής ναοδομίας, in: Η Θεσσαλονίκη μεταξύ Ανατολής και Δύσεως, Thessaloniki 1982, 102–103; idem, Church Archi- tecture in Thessaloniki in the 14th century. Remarks on the Typology, in: L’

Transcript of A contribution to the study of the “Athonite” church type ... · PDF...

  • 39

    To the memory of professor Paul Mylonas

    The recent study of the history and architecture of the Vato-pedi monasterys katholikon, initially built as a cross-in-square composite four-column type church with lateral apses (choroi) and a two-storey narthex, can serve as a secure base for the study of the so-called Athonite church type, which in all likelihood had been already completely formed in Constantinople or in the area under its infl uence, before its architectural plan was applied on Athos.Keywords: Byzantine architecture, Athonite church type, Mount Athos, katholikon

    A. During the recent study of the history and archi-tecture of the Vatopedi monasterys katholikon1 it became evident that the main church of the building complex, the katholikon par excellence, was built initially as a cross-in-square composite four-column type church with lateral apses (choroi) and a two storey narthex (fi gs. 12). It can thus serve as a secure base for the study of the so-called Athonite Church Type, whose it has long been considered a prime example.2

    B. The study of the church type, established to be called Athonite has a long history. The fi rst attempts to determine and describe its characteristics and clarify its origin and evolu-

    A contribution to the study of the Athonitechurch type of Byzantine architecture*

    Stavros Mamaloukos**University of Patras

    UDC 726.5.033(495.631) 726.5.01DOI 10.2298/ZOG1135039M

    tion were made about one century ago. These were based on exceptionally poor data: elementary and frequently inaccurate drawings, insuffi cient or completely inexistent research on the building history of the, often composite and complicated, church building complexes and on defi cient or inexistent com-parative material. Naturally these data frequently led research into wrong directions. Furthermore, many serious problems in the study of the type were caused by the prevailing methodol-ogy of architectural history itself. Let it be noted that many of the misunderstandings yielded by the above mentioned condi-tions were inherited to more recent research, giving rise to doubts and almost insurmountable problems.

    Many scholars have referred to the Athonite type in their studies of monuments on Mount Athos and else-where or in text books on Byzantine architecture. Among them are A. Choisy,3 H. Brockhaus,4 N. P. Kondakov,5 J. Strzygowski,6 G. Millet,7 O. Wulff,8 G. Sotiriou,9 F. W. Hasluck,10 A. Xyngopoulos,11 A. Orlandos,12 E. Weigand,13 R. Krautheimer,14 Sl. Nenadovi,15 C. Mango,16 G. Deme-trokallis,17 N. Niko nanos,18 I. Papagelos,19 P. Vocotopoulos,20

    * The following text is a reevaluated and completed version of a part from the chapter in the authors doctoral thesis dealing with typology issues in the katholikon of the Vatopedi Monastery (v. n. 1).

    ** [email protected] S. Mamaloukos, .

    , Athens 2001, 138152.2 P. Mylonas, Le plan initial du catholicon de la Grande-Lavra au

    Mont Athos et la gense de type du catholicon athonite, CA 32 (1984) 102.3 A. Choisy, Lart de btir chez les Byzantins, Paris 1883, 130.4 H. Brockhaus, Die Kunst in den Athos-Klstern, Leipzig 1891,

    1532.5 N. P. Kondakov, Pami atniki khristianskogo iskusstva na Afone,

    Sankt-Peterburg 1902, 2631.6 J. Strzygowski, Kleinasien, ein Neuland der Kunstgeschichte,

    Leipzig 1903, 148, 234; idem, Die Baukunst der Armenier und Europa, Wien 1918, 770.

    7 G. Millet, Recherches au Mont-Athos, Bulletin de Correspond-ance Hellnique 29 (1905) 55141.

    8 O. Wulff, Altchristliche und byzantinische Kunst, Leipzig 1914, 471472.

    9 G. Sotiriou, , Athens 1916; idem, , 1: -, Athens 1942, 458461.

    10 F. W. Hasluck, Athos and its Monasteries, London 1924, 9899.11 . Xyngopoulos, -

    , in: E 2 (Athens 1929) 77.

    12 . Orlandos, , 7 (1930) 378379, idem, - , 1 (1935) 110; idem, , 15 (1939) 407408.

    13 F. Dlger, E. Wiegand, A. Deindl, Mnchland Athos, Mnchen 1943, 110.

    14 R. Krautheimer, Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture, Harmondsworth 1981, 398399.

    15 S. Nenadovi, Architektura Hilandara. Crkve i paraklisi, Hilan-darski zbornik 3 (1974) 199, 201.

    16 C. Mango, Byzantine Architecture, New York 1976, 216.17 G. Dimitrokallis, -

    , in: idem, Contribution ltude des monuments byzantins et mdivaux dItalie, Athnes 1971, 101103.

    18 . Nikonanos, 10 1393, Athens 1979, 151152.

    19 . Papagelos, - , 5 - , Athens 1985, 7374.

    20 P. Vocotopoulos, , in: , Thessaloniki 1982, 102103; idem, Church Archi-tecture in Thessaloniki in the 14th century. Remarks on the Typology, in: L

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    35 (2011) [3950]

    N. Gkio les,21 . Bokovi,22 H. Bouras,23 Pl. Theocharides,24 Th. Steppan,25 Th. Papazotos,26 G. Velenis,27 V. Kora,28 R. Ousterhout29 and . Ghazarian.30 The most systematic, though, attempt in studying the Athonite type up to now, has been made by the late professor P. Mylonas, who has published an entire series of papers related to the subject.31 These publications are a product of an original study based on new and precise survey drawings and on the examination

    of the buildings themselves. Unfortunately, due to the partic-ularities of local conditions, professor Mylonas had on very few occasions the support of the archaeological research in his studies. However, a special emphasis has been given in his studies, on the clarifi cation of the monuments building history as much as possible, along with the aid of historic sources, so as to interpret the building conditions and the relations between them. With this evidence, professor My-

    Fig.1. Vatopedi Monastery. Katholikon. Reconstruction. a. Plan, b. Longitudinal section, c. South elevation, d. Eastern elevation, e. Western elevation (S. Mamaloukos)

    31 P. Mylonas, , Nea Hestia 74 (1963) 189207; idem, L Architecture du Mont Athos, Thessaurismata 2 (1963). . , 2831; idem, L Architecture monastique du Mont Athos, in: Le millnaire du Mont Athos, 963-1963. tudes et mlanges, II, Chevetogne 1964, 229246; idem, , ea Hest-ia 89 (1971) 238254; idem, Two Middle Byzantine Churches on Athos, Actes du XVe Congrs international d tudes byzantines, II, Athens 1976, 545574; idem, Les tapes successives de construction du Protaton au Mont Athos, CA 28 (1979) 143160; idem, - , 1 (1981) 5263; idem, Catho-licon de la Grande-Lavra; idem, , , 4 , Athens 1984, 3940; idem, - , 4 , Ath-ens 1984, 4143; idem, , 5 , Athens 1985, 6668; idem, Notice sur le katholikon dIviron, in: Actes dIviron, ed. J. Lefort, N. Oikonomids, D. Papachryssanthou, H. Mtrvli, I, Paris 1985, 6468; idem, . , 14 (1985) 6483; idem, Remarques architecturales sur le Catholicon de Chilandar. La formation graduelle du catholicon absides latrales ou churs et liti au Mont Athos, Hilandarski zbornik 6 (1986) 738; idem, , 6 , Athens 1986, 4748; idem, . , 9 , Athens 1989, 5861; idem, Gavits armniens et Litae byzantines, CA 38 (1990) 99122; idem, Le Catholicon de Kutlumus (Athos), CA 42 (1994) 7586.

    Art de Thessalonique et des pays balquaniques et les courants spirituals au XIVe sicle, ed. R. Samardi, Belgrade 1987, 111112; idem, Th. Steppan, Die Athos-Lavra und der trikonchale Kuppelnaos in der byzantinischen Architektur, Mnchen 1995, JB 48 (1998) 401, 403.

    21 . Gkioles, (600-1204), Athens 1987, 101105.

    22 . Bokovi, Manastir Hilandar. Saborna Crkva, arhitektura, Beograd 1992, 25, 25, 40 n. 4.

    23 Ch. Bouras, , 2. -, , Athens 1994, 211212.

    24 Pl. Theocharidis, , in: . - ( 14-20 1992), Thessaloniki 2002, 375.

    25 Th. Steppan, Die Athos-Lavra und der trikonchale Kuppelnaos in der byzantinischen Architectur, Mnchen 1995, passim.

    26 Th. Papazotos, , 2 (1997) 5358; idem, , 9 (Ko-motini 19921994) 35.

    27 G. Velenis, , , 63 (Athens 1997) 57.

    28 V. Kora, Crkva kralja Milutina, in: Manastir Hilandar, ed. G. Suboti, Beograd 1998, 145, 148.

    29 R. Ousterhout, Master Builders of Byzantium, Princeton 1999, 29.30 . Kazarian, A New View about the Caucasian Precedents of

    the Athos Type of Triconch Churches, in: Pr-Actes. XXe Congrs in-ternational des Etudes Byzantines, III, Paris 2001, 337; idem, Trikonk-hovye krestovo-kupolnye t serkvi v zodchestve Zakavkazi a i Vizantii, in: Vizantiski mir: iskusstvo Konstantinopoli a i nat sionalnye tradit sii. K 2000-letii u khristianstva, Moskva 2005, 1330.

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    Mamaloukos S.: A contribution to the study of the Athonite church type of Byzantine architecture

    lonas went on to a series of work hypotheses related with the creation and evolution of the Athonite type, as this had been determined by the previous generation of scholars. Most of Mylonass work hypotheses were initially widely accepted. Later on, however, there have been reservations and disagreements on many of them, based on more com-plete surveys of the monuments or different interpretations of the sources. In any case, almost all of Mylonas hypoth-eses related to the interpretation of the building history of the buildings, remain open to further study. Their confi rmation or disapproval might only be possible, if some of the older and better-preserved monuments of this type become object of systematic archaeological research in combination with the use of the historic sources, after their reexamination and reevaluation.

    C. The defi nition of the Athonite type refers to the determination of the elements that are peculiar to this church type and differentiate it from others, with which it shares certain common traits. In his study on the katholikon of the Great Lavra in 1905, G. Millet,32 following H. Brockhaus,33 who fi rst see