The Katholikon of the Holy Monastery of Greatest Lavra on Mount Athos: History and Architecture

he Katholikon of the Lavra is an iconic building in the history of Mount Athos. It represents the first of the big Katholikons erected on the peninsula, in effect initiating the building history of the monasteries of Mount Athos in the form we know today. In addition, it is a building firmly dated to 963 (exact dating is scarce for Middle Byzantine buildings, even for the most important). This is the first monograph to describe in detail the Katholikon's construction, its history, its influences, and its successive phases, complete with detailed drawings and many photographs, some in colour. Using detailed computer-designed drawings and new photographs, this monograph offers a detailed and methodical study of the history and architecture of the Katholikon. Four appendices are included: first, the ceramic decoration of the nave with Iznik tiles; the second a corpus of the churches with column-supported narthexes-litae; the third, written by Dr. Vasiliki Sythiakakis-Kritsimallis, deals with the subject of the marble decoration of the church; and the fourth is a synopsis of the churches with domes on cylindrical drums. The main text of the book is in Greek. Extensive English (24 pages) and Russian (23 pages) summaries are included.