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Type:
Date: 15-17th century
Description:
The Monastery of Hagios Ioannis Theologos lies on the western side of Hymettus, close to the Cemetery of Papagos municipality. The Monastery is surrounded by a rectangular yard. The katholikon is a simple, four-columned, cross-in-square church, while the dome is Athenian. The dating of the monument is problematic. K. Krautheimer has dated it around 1120, M. Hatzidakis after the 12th century, A. Orlandos in the 13th – 14th century, G. Sotiriou in the 16th – 17th century. Ch. Bouras similarly considers it a post Byzantine monument dated between the 15th and the 17th century. He also mentions that the owner of the church remained loyal to middle Byzantine style, namely the Athenian dome crowning the katholikon, the plurality of the roofs as well as the wall paintings. He clearly tried to imitate the style of the Athenian middle Byzantine churches in churches of similar dimensions. The painted decoration dated to the second half of the 16th century is an example of elevated post Byzantine art. It is preserved in the apse of the Holy Bema, on the dome and the cross arms. The Monastery consists of the Refectory in the west of the katholikon dated to the post Byzantine period. The circular tower of the Monastery dated to the post Byzantine period, which lies opposite of the southwestern corner of the katholikon, is also preserved.
Koder J.Hild F., Hellas und Thessalia, Tabula Imperii Byzantini I, Wien 1976, p. 176.