The Greek Church With the Finest Byzantine-Era Frescoes

Byzantine Frescoes astatine Panagia Kera. Credit: Travel Crete

The religion of Panagia Kera connected Crete contains the finest-preserved Byzantine frescoes connected the Greek island, and it is 1 of the astir culturally and historically important churches.

Located adjacent the colony of Kritsa successful the municipality of Agios Nikolaos, it contains frescoes that day backmost to the Paleologian Renaissance, with vivid, agleam colors which person withstood the trial of time.

Panagia Kera founded successful the 13th century

Although nary founding day for the Church of Panagia Kera has been established, humanities statement agrees that the oldest parts of the church, the cardinal nave, and its vaulted extortion and dome were constructed and painted successful the 13th century.

The triple-nave Byzantine religion is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, to Saint Anthony and Saint Anna.

The religion of Panagia Kera. Credit: Gerd A.T. Müller , CC BY-SA 3.0/Wikipedia

According to section tradition, the religion contained an icon of the Virgin Mary, which was believed to person miraculous powers.

During the play of Byzantine Iconoclasm, it was transported to Constantinople but was aboriginal returned. In 1498, during the Venetian concern of Crete, a Greek trader stole the icon, which was aboriginal transported to the temple of Saint Alfonso, located connected the Esquiline Hill successful Rome.

Panagia Kera was aboriginal renovated by the Managgaris household successful 1722, and, successful 1732, the icon of the Virgin Mary was repainted successful the religion by an chartless artist.

Byzantine Frescoes astatine Panagia Kera. Credit: Travel Crete

Byzantine frescoes connected Crete

The frescoes connected the dome and the cardinal nave picture the pursuing scenes from the New Testament: the Presentation, the Baptism, the Raising of Lazarus, and the Entry into Jerusalem.

The cardinal aisle of the religion is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the Assumption. The frescoes connected the occidental partition of the religion picture the Crucifixion of Jesus and the Punishment of the Damned, with Michael the Archangel announcing the Second Coming.

Byzantine Frescoes astatine Panagia Kera. Credit: Travel Crete

The southbound aisle of Saint Anne is decorated with images of the beingness of the Virgin Mary, and the northbound aisle is dedicated to Saint Anthony, with frescoes of the Second Coming and Judgement Day.

Next to the northbound aisle is simply a depiction of Heaven, implicit with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, arsenic good arsenic the Virgin Mary.

The adjacent colony of Kritsa is 1 of the oldest and astir picturesque villages connected Crete, Greece, built amphitheatrically connected a stone elevation named Kastellos. It is surrounded by olive groves astatine an altitude of 375 meters. During the Middle Ages, it was thought to beryllium the largest colony successful Crete.