Byzantium

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Byzantine Churches

Mark Merlino - Home page

Frescoes, or wall paintings were a central part of church decoration in Byzantine times. This above photo shows the Sumela Monastery complex in Pontus, near the Black Sea port of Trabzon. Behind me are the remains of post-Byzantine frescoes.

Mosaic of Christ Pantokrator in Haghia Sophia, Istanbul.

This is me standing in front of one of Haghia Sophia. I am in the garden outside of the domed church and next to a column inside of the church. It was built in the sixth century as the cathedral of Constantinople. It is now a museum  in the modern city of Istanbul.

Another very common form of church decoration is mosaic. This is a mosaic of Saint Peter found in St. Saviour in Chora in Istanbul

A very fine example of late Byzantine architecture is the beautiful 13th century church of Haghia Sophia in Trabzon.

The Church of Haghia Sophia in Iznik, ancient Nicaea.  This beautiful little town was chosen as the site of two of the first seven ecumenical councils.   This church was actually the site of the Seventh Ecumenical council, held in the 8th century.

The remains of the early Byzantine church of Qalat Saman, dedicated to Saint Symeon the Stylite in Northern Syria. This saint lived a top a column in the fourth century AD and was loved by the local Syrian Christians. See photos of Syria.