International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Klimis Aslanidis
Gediz University, Izmir, Turkey; 
[e-mail]
The Eleventh Century “Renaissance“ in Church Architecture 
of the Aegean Islands
Revival of Early Christian architecture, often referred to as “Renaissance”, has been observed in 
several Byzantine churches of the eleventh century. In the Aegean islands, this trend is best illustrated 
by the katholikon of Nea Moni in Chios. On other islands, although the architecture is not comparable 
to that outstanding edifice, a similar trend can be detected in certain notable churches. 
On the island of Naxos, the church of Hagios Mamas in Potamia, which can be dated to the 
mid-eleventh century, demonstrates an attempt to create a monumental building, inspired by an 
Early-Christian prototype. The intention of the ktetor is clearly illustrated in the metrical dedicatory 
inscription of the church, written in an archaistic style of expression. The Justinian church of 
Katapoliani, on the nearby island of Paros, seems to have served as a prototype for Hagios Mamas. 
This impressive Early-Christian building, the largest church to have ever been built on the Cycladic 
islands, was very much admired in the Middle-Byzantine period, as is demonstrated in the tenth-
century Life of Saint Theoktiste of Lesbos. Comparison of the two churches leads to the conclusion 
that the ktetor of Hagios Mamas attempted to create a monumental building that differs from local 
tradition and is in some ways reminiscent of the great Parian church.
The church of Hagioi Apostoloi in Argos on the island of Kalymnos has a similar layout and 
many features in common with Hagios Mamas. Hagioi Apostoloi, which has been recently studied by 
M. Kappas, has been dated to the late tenth or eleventh century. Although a specific Early Christian 
model for this building cannot be identified, many features characteristic of Justinian architecture 
bear witness to a deliberate attempt to revive antique architecture just as at the Naxian church.
On the island of Santorini, the church of Episkopi in Mesa Gonia has provoked a debate 
regarding its date as well as the question of whether it is the result of the transformation of an 
Early-Christian basilica. The church was most likely erected in the eleventh century, and no pre-
existing building has been integrated in its construction. However, many features demonstrate that 
it attempts to imitate Early-Christian architecture. The model for the church of the Episkopi must 
have been the massive basilica of Hagia Eirini in Perissa. The basilica, recently published by E. 
Gerousi, was transformed into a domed cruciform structure, possibly in the Justinian period. The 
general arrangement of the Episkopi, as well as specific construction details, point to the conclusion 
that there is a deliberate reference to the great Justinian church. In the Middle-Byzantine period 
Hagia Eirini was only partially preserved, but there is evidence that parts of it were still in use. 
Admiration for this church in the Middle-Ages was such that it gave its name to the island of Thera.
These three monuments reveal the eleventh-century trend for revival of the glorious past in 
the Aegean islands. This effort is undoubtedly associated with the prosperity of the region after the 
definite extinction of the Arab threat. With the exception of the case of Chios, where the illustrious 

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katholikon demonstrates direct introduction of models from Constantinople, the high aspirations 
of ktetors are realized with limited technical means and local craftsmen, following local prototypes. 
This tendency renews local tradition, contributing to the crystallization of a special regional 
architectural character, to be continued and developed further through the following century.