Architecture of the Byzantine world

The recently restored medieval complex of Kastro Polichni in Greece, comprising a 10th-century Byzantine Church of the Archangels and a Frankish castle built around it. The castle has survived only in part, and has therefore not been fully restored.

Today, the Church commemorates one of its most revered feasts – the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Alas, this time I have not been able to prepare my usual selection of the most beautiful churches dedicated to it. Nevertheless, I suggest we look at a unique church dedicated to such a significant date - the Cathedral of the Dormition in Kem. It is, of course, a cathedral insofar as it is the main church of this small town and, despite its austere northern appearance, is relatively young - built in the early XVIII century. However, it is not just the "younger brother" of Russian wooden cathedrals - it is their very last surviving example. It is no secret that, historically, all Russian towns were built using timber – and although cathedrals were generally constructed from stone, in many places they were wooden, whilst still maintaining the scale and splendour befitting their status. And this church allows us to get at least a glimpse of what the cathedrals of Russian wooden architecture looked like.

A Byzantine-style fresco, captured by Nicholas Roerich in the throne room of the ruined Vytautas Castle in Troki, Lithuania. Alas, although the castle has since been restored, its interior decoration has not survived to the present day. Nowadays, such frescoes are preserved only in the chambers of the Moscow and Uglich Kremlins.

The resplendent modern Byzantine-style decor, adorning the neo-Gothic Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Trebinje.

Gates of the red-domed Koutloumousiou Transfiguration monastery on the Mount Athos. Founded, like many other Athonite shrines, under the gaze of the emperors, it found new patrons in the Wallachian voivodes - and flourished.

The Transfiguration Co-cathedral of Nevyansk - of what was once a factory, and now a town.

Inside the Transfiguration Cathedral in Ermoupoli - the oldest in the town, founded by refugees from other Greek islands, and therefore so similar to the churches of Chios.

Transfiguration of the Lord. Modern gates of the ancient Catholicon of the Transfiguration in the Samtavro monastery, Georgia.

The recently restored water tower at the Bergs’ estate, near Staro-Nikolskoye, which has been converted into a residential building. Although the tower’s revival and its adaptation for new purposes are certainly welcome, the fate of the estate itself still gives cause for concern: the modern-style cottage community springing up on its legacy is in no hurry to restore the estate’s residential buildings and does not even mention them on its website.

Недавно отреставрированная и превращенная в жилой дом водонапорная башня усадьбы Бергов рядом со Старо-Никольским. Хотя возрождение башни и ее адаптация под новые задачи не могут не радовать, судьба самой усадьбы все еще вызывает опасения: раскручивающийся на ее наследии коттеджный поселок современной архитектуры не спешит восстанавливать жилые строения усадьбы и даже не пишет о них на своем сайте.

An extremely rare example of surviving late-Byzantine architectural sculpture - due to the general decline of the arts and the subsequent Muslim iconoclasm - the head of a saint or apostle, discovered in the first half of the XX century near the Myrelaion Monastery in Constantinople. It is now housed in the Byzantine collection of the Bode Museum in Berlin.

The former Granichar barracks in Caransebeș, Romania, which now house an ethnographic museum. Plans are currently underway to restore this Baroque building - and thank Lord, because the current state of this structure, with its rather fine architecture, leaves much to be desired.

A small Franco-Byzantine church of Saint George in Aipeia, Greece. While the overall appearance of the temple is typical of an average late-Byzantine church, what makes it Frankish is, of course, its distinctive Gothic windows.

Fragments of the baroque decoration of the Transfiguration Church of the Popkovo pogost, now located in the museum of the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma, Russia.

An old photo of a Byzantine-styled well head from Venice, Italy. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find high-quality modern photos of the said well.

The mosaic in the apse of the catholicon at Gelati Monastery in Georgia, created by Greek craftsmen, is the largest surviving Byzantine mosaic not only in the country but throughout the Caucasus. A few years ago, it was, alas, damaged once again by water seepage - but, fortunately, restoration work has already begun.

Calabrian Byzantine castle of Simeri Crichi, Italy.

The Church of the Nativity in Gorodnya is the most famous (albeit within a narrow circle) and the only surviving monument of the Tver school of architecture - a style related to the early-Moscow style and, possibly, together with it and other monuments that have not survived to the present day, constituting the hypothetical "post-Mongol style of North-Eastern Rus". And yet, inside, this church - which has survived in fairly good condition to the present day - presents the familiar sight of a provincial church with Baroque and Neoclassical decor—making one forget that one is inside a medieval building.

Unexpectedly joyful news from Turkey! The Byzantine hospital in Side, one of the best preserved to our day, has been partially restored. It is difficult to say to which period - considering that the building dates from the VI century, while the restored elements rather reflect the middle Byzantine era. Either way, one cannot but welcome the revival of Roman architecture!

The Crypt of Saint Cristine - a Byzantine rock-hewn church in Carpignano Salentino, Italy. Originally built as a funerary chapel, it was later transformed into a church and partially rebuilt in the Baroque style, however, the original frescoes have survived to this day.