Freze, Anna A. Ambulatories and Chapels in the Churches of Thessaloniki of the 8th–12th Centuries: The Main Approaches to the Research

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2212-01-04
Title Ambulatories and Chapels in the Churches of Thessaloniki of the 8th–12th Centuries: The Main Approaches to the Research
Author email anna.freze@gmail.com
About author Freze, Anna A. — researcher. The Research Institute of Theory and History of Architecture and Town Planning, 111024 Moscow, Russian Federation. ORCID: 0000-0003-4591-6349
In the section Byzantine and Eastern Christian Art DOI10.18688/aa2212-01-04
Year 2022 Volume 12 Pages 77–91
Type of article RAR Index UDK 72.033 Index BBK 85.113 (4)
Abstract

In the Middle Byzantine period, several chapels were introduced into the complexes of the Early Byzantine basilicas of Thessaloniki, the Church of Hagios Demetrios and the Church of Theotokos Acheiropiitos. Two eastern chapels and probably corresponding flanking ambulatories were erected in the 10th century for the katholikon of John the Forerunner monastery. The katholikon of the St. Theodosia (?) monastery had a southern ambulatory likely ending with a parekklesion. During this period two chapels may have been built at the northern façade of the Cathedral of St. Sophia. However, the accumulated archaeological data do not allow to obtain a definite concept of the tradition of building ambulatories and chapels in Middle Byzantine Thessaloniki. The archaeological studies of the majority of the monuments are not complete and their datings range within several centuries. Though the available evidence testifies to significant importance of the periphery in the contemporary church architecture. To continue the research the chapels and ambulatories in Thessaloniki should be studied in the context of parallel building practice in Constantinople, as well as in the Macedonian lands as a whole. Dating, construction specifics, and functions of the annexes to the St. Sophia cathedral in Thessaloniki are very important issues to study.

This research was funded by the Russian Scientific Fund, project 20-18-00294 “Artistic Traditions and Ecclesiastic-Political Ideology in the Medieval Architecture and Art of the Balkans. Macedonian question”.
Keywords
Reference Freze, Anna A. Ambulatories and Chapels in the Churches of Thessaloniki of the 8th–12th Centuries: The Main Approaches to the Research. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art: Collection of articles. Vol. 12. Eds A. V. Zakharova, S. V. Maltseva, E. Iu. Staniukovich-Denisova. — St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Univ. Press, 2022, pp. 77–91. ISSN 2312-2129. http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2212-01-04
Publication Article language russian
Bibliography
  • Babić G. Les chapelles annexes des églises byzantines. Fonction liturgique et programmes iconographiques. Paris, Klincksieck Publ., 1969. 191 p. (in French).
  • Bakirtzis Ch. I vasiliki tou agiou Dimitriou (Basilica of Hagios Demetrios). Thessaloniki, Idryma Meleton Chersonesou tou Aimou Publ., 1986. 91 p. (in Greek).
  • Bakirtzis Ch. The Urban Continuity and Size of Late Byzantine Thessalonike. Dumbarton Oaks Papers, 2003, vol. 57, pp. 35–64.
  • Ćurčić S. Architectural Significance of Subsidiary Chapels in Middle Byzantine Churches. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. 1977, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 94–110. DOI: 10.2307/989106
  • Ćurčić S. Gračanica: King Milutin’s Church and Its Place in Late Byzantine Architecture. University Park, The Pennsylvania State University Press Publ., 1979. 280 p.
  • Ćurčić S. Architecture in the Balkans from Diocletian to Süleyman the Magnificent (ca. 300 – ca. 1550). London; New Haven, Yale University Press Publ., 2010. 914 p.
  • Dark K.; Kostenec J. Hagia Sophia in Context. An Archaeological Re-examination of the Cathedral of Byzantine Constantinople. Oxford, Oxbow Books, 2019. 141 p.
  • Darrouzes J. Saint-Sophie de Thessalonique d`après un ritual. Revue des études byzantines, 1976, vol. 34, pp. 45–78 (in French).
  • Drosogianni F. Byzantine and Medieval Monuments in Macedonia. Archaiologikon Deltion (Archaeological Bulletin), 1963, vol. 18 Chronika, pp. 235–242 (in Greek).
  • Euangelidis D. An Iconoclast Monument in Thessaloniki. Archaiologiki efimeris (Archaeological Newspaper), 1937, vol. 100, pp. 341–351 (in Greek).
  • Feist S. Die byzantinische Sakralarchitektur der Dunklen Jahrhunderte. Wiesbaden, Reichert Verlag Publ., 2019. 256 p. (in German).
  • Hadjitryfοnos E. To peristoo stin ysterobyzantini ekklisiastiki arhitektoniki (Ambulatories in the Late Byzantine Church Architecture). Thessaloniki, Europaiko Kentro Byzantinon kai Metabyzantinon Mnemeion Publ., 2004. 367 p. (in Greek).
  • Ivison E. Mortuary Practices in Byzantium (c. 950–1453) An Archaeological Contribution, Dissertation, 2 vols. Birmingham, 1993.
  • Kalligas M. Archaeological Works at the Church of St. Sophia in Thessaloniki. Praktika tis en Athinais Archaiologikis Etaireias (Proceedings of the Archaeological Society of Athens), 1938, pp. 67–75 (in Greek).
  • Krautheimer R. Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture. New Haven and London, Yale University Press Publ., 1986. 553 p.
  • Maltseva S. V. The Role of Chapels in Emerging of the Local Tradition of Mediaeval Serbian Architecture. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art, 2011, vol. 1, pp. 63–68 (in Russian).
  • Maltseva S. V.; Freze A. A. Basilicas of the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries in Macedonia. Vizantiiskii Vremennik, 2021, vol. 105, pp. 179–203 (in Russian).
  • Mamaloukos S. The Katholikon of Vatopedi Monastery, Dissertation. Athens, 2001. 737 p. (in Greek)
  • Marinis V. Architecture and Ritual in the Churches of Constantinople: Ninth to Fifteenth Centuries. New York, Cambridge University Press Publ., 2014. 243 p.
  • Mathews Th. “Private” Liturgy in Byzantine Architecture: Toward a Re-appraisal. Cahiers archéologiques, 1982, vol. 30, pp. 125–138.
  • Moutsopoulos N. Ekklisies tis Kastorias. 9os–11os aionas (Churches of Kastoria. The Ninth-Eleventh Centuries). Thessaloniki, 1992. 564 p. (in Greek).
  • Papageorgiou P. Serres and Its Region and the Monastery of John the Forerunner. Byzantinische Zetischrift, 1894, vol. 3, pp. 249–250 (in Greek).
  • Pelekanidis S. Excavations to the North of Basilica of Hagios Demetrios in Thessaloniki. Praktika tis en Athinais Archaiologikis Etaireias (Proceedings of the Archaeological Society of Athens), 1959, pp. 38–41 (in Greek).
  • Pelekanidis S. Medieval Macedonia. Archaiologikon Deltion (Archaeological Bulletin). 1961–1962, vol. 17 Chronika, pp. 253–256 (in Greek).
  • Peschlow U. Die Irenenkirche in Istanbul. Untersuchungen zur Architektur. Tübingen, Verlag Ernst Wasmuth Publ., 1977. 240 p. (in German).
  • Soteriou G.; Soteriou M. I basiliki tou Agiou Dimitriou Thessalonikis (Basilica of Hagios Demetrios in Thessaloniki). Athens, I en Athenais Archaiologiki Etaireia Publ., 1952. 278 p. (in Greek).
  • Spieser J-M. Inventaires en vue d`un recueil des inscriptions historique de Byzance. I: Les inscriptions de Thessalonique. Travaux et Mémoires. 1973, vol. 5, pp. 145–180 (in French).
  • Teteriatnikov N. Upper-Storey Chapels near the Sanctuary in Churches of the Christian East. Dumbarton Oaks Papers. 1988, vol. 42, pp. 65–72. DOI: 10.2307/1291589
  • Theis L. Flankenräume im mittelbyzantinischen Kirchenbau. Wiesbaden, Reichert Verlag Publ., 2005. 368 p. (in German).
  • Theocharidis G. An Extinct Great Monastery in Thessaloniki, the Monastery of the Forerunner. Makedonika, 1978, vol. 18, pp. 1–26 (in Greek).
  • Theocharidou K. H architektoniki tou naou tis Agias Sofias sti Thessaloniki. Apo tin ίdrysi tou mechri simera (Architecture of the Church of St. Sophia in Thessaloniki. From Foundation till Today). Athens, Ekdosi tou tameiou archaiologikon poron kai apallotrioseon Publ., 1994. 231 p. (in Greek).
  • Tsigaridas E. Oi toichografies tis monis Latomou Thessalonikis kai i byzantini zografiki tou 12ou aiona (Frescoes of the Latomou Monastery in Thessaloniki and the Paintings of the 12th Century). Thessaloniki, Etaireia Makedonikon Spoudon Publ., 1986. 224 p. (in Greek).
  • Tupitsyna K. S. Church on the North-West Side of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki: The New Data. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art, 2021, vol. 11, pp. 48–491 (in Russian). DOI: 10.18688/aa2111-04-37
  • Velenis G. Mesovyzantini naodomia sti Thessaloniki (Middle Byzantine Churches in Thessaloniki). Athina, Akadimia Athinon Publ., 2003. 117 p. (in Greek).
  • Xyggopoulos A. Katholikon of the Latomou Monastery in Thessaloniki and Its Mosaics. Archaiologikon Deltion (Archaeological Bulletin). 1929, vol. 12, pp. 142–180 (in Greek).
  • Xyggopoulos A. A Small Monastery of the Savior near the Markron of St. Sophia Cathedral in Thessaloniki. Makedonika. 1956, vol. 3, pp. 377–378 (in Greek).