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Byzantine era

The Byzantine era was a very important time for the island of Naxos. Numerous churches and several fortresses have been preserved from this time, which we present in around 25 articles.

Agios Stefanos bei Angidia

19. September 2024

Nach der Christianisierung der Insel Naxos etwa im 3. Jahrhundert n. Chr. wurden zunächst die alten Tempel der Insel, d.h. die Tempel des Apollon und des Dionysos bei der Chóra sowie der Demeter be…

Besuch bei der Kirche Agios Stefanos bei der Chora

2. February 2024

Heute hatte ich Gelegenheit für einen kurzen Besuch der Ruine der Kirche Ágios Stéfanos in der Nähe von Angídia – eine interessante Sehenswürdigkeit, auch wenn nur wenig von der Kirche erhalten ist…

Joannis Theologos in Danakos

3. November 2023

The church at the cemetery of Danakós, dedicated to St John the Theologian, contains very rare wall paintings from the time of iconoclasm, which have recently been uncovered and restored. The ceme…

Panagia Archatou near Agiassos

1. November 2023

In the south-west of Naxos, not far from Agiassós, lies the unusual Byzantine church of Panagía Archatoú, which is decorated with remarkable murals. The building was probably erected before the 12t…

Panagia Liouriotissa in Marathos

31. October 2023

In the valley of Marathós south of Kastro Apalírou, in a side valley, lies among olive trees the small church of Panagía Liouriótissa (Our Lady of the Olive Grove), which is dedicated to the Presen…

Agios Georgios in Marathos

30. October 2023

In south-west Naxos, in the area south of Agiassós, lies several churches scattered in the empty landscape, that are decorated with important Byzantine wall paintings well worth seeing, even if the…

Panagia Protothronos in Chalki

28. October 2023

The large village church of Chalkí, Panagía Protóthronos, dedicated to the Annunciation of the Lord, is one of the oldest churches on the island. It probably dates back to the Early Christian perio…

Agios Andreas at Apano Kastro

23. October 2023

On the hiking trail from Potamiá to Apáno Kástro, one passes by a very small but pretty church dedicated to St Andreas. It is a single-nave church without a dome with wall arcades (“blind” arches o…

Joannis Theologos Kaminiou near Kalandos

23. October 2023

On the hills to the north of Kalandós, the large bay at the southern tip of Naxos, near two shepherds’ houses in an area called Kamíni (from the name of the traditional lime kilns), stands a small …

Agios Joannis in Kerami

22. October 2023

The Tragaía, with its many villages, has a particularly large number of Byzantine churches, many of which are decorated with remarkable murals. One of these churches, dedicated to St John, lies rig…

The Byzantine murals in the churches of Naxos

20. January 2021

In the Byzantine churches of Naxos quite often some medieval wall paintings (murals) have been preserved. Important remains of murals can be found not only in some churches in the central, more pop…

The Monastery of Fotodotis

1. October 2020

Near Danakós, not far from the pass to Apíranthos, lies a Byzantine fortified monastery dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ (“Metamorphosis tou Sotiros Christou”) and called Fotodótis (“Give…

Gute Nachrichten für die Kirche Agia Kyriaki

Für die kleine byzantinische Kirche Agia Kyriaki bei Apeiranthos, die mit sehr seltenen Wandmalereien aus der Zeit des Bilderstreites (8. und 9. Jhd.) ausgeschmückt ist, gibt es gute Nachrichten: I…

Panagia Drosiani near Moni

3. February 2012

The most famous Byzantine church and one of the main attractions of Naxos is the church of Panagía Drosianí near Moní. It dates from the 6th century AD and is one of the oldest churches in Greece. …

The Byzantine churches of Naxos

3. February 2012

The island of Naxos possesses an extraordinary treasure with over 140 Byzantine churches, the oldest of which date back to the 5th or 6th century, possibly even as early as the 4th century. The chu…

Naxos in the Byzantine era

3. February 2012

As far as Greek history is concerned, most people only think of Ancient Greece, and with good reasons, since Greece developed in antiquity (and before) a very important culture, that not only profo…

Agios Mamas near Potamia

27. January 2012

Near Káto Potamiá lies an interesting church dedicated to Ágios Mámas, the patron saint of shepherds. It dates back to the 10th century and was used as an episcopal church by the island’s Catholic …

Agios Panteleimonas in Lakkomersina

25. January 2012

Southeast of Apíranthos, between the road to Moutsoúna and the road from Danakós to the coast, lies a valley called Lakkomérsina. When we explored that area in November 2011, we discovered a small …

Fortresses and towers

Festungen und Wehrtürme In der Ägäis mit ihren zahlreichen Inseln hat sich schon sehr früh eine Schifffahrt entwickelt: Mittels Booten und Schiffen erreichten die Menschen die Inseln, standen in K…

Churches and monasteries

Kirchen und Klöster Viele griechische Inseln rühmen sich, 356 Kirchen zu besitzen, für jeden Tag des Jahres eine. Auf Naxos könnte das vielleicht sogar stimmen: Allein die byzantinischen Kirchen s…