Kaisariani. The ruins of the early Christian basilica are detected between the Frankish church of Hagios Markos on the left and the more recent church of Taksiarchai on the right. (Photograph: I. Liakoura)
Kaisariani. The ruins of the early Christian basilica are detected between the Frankish church of Hagios Markos on the left and the more recent church of Taksiarchai on the right. (Photograph: I. Liakoura)
View of the position where the first Christian center of the Kaisariani Monastery used to lie. (Photograph: I. Liakoura)
The ruins of the early Christian basilica and the 10th century church built on the same position. (Photograph: I. Liakoura)

Basilica, Kaisariani

Area: Kaisariani, Hymettus
Type:
Date: 10th century

Description:

In the southwest of the Katholikon of Kaisariani Monastery lie the foundations of an early Christian basilica, where a church of a transitional type was built in the 10th century, from which only ruins are preserved. It is the early Christian position “Cemetery of the Holy Fathers”, which offers a view till Saronikos, a fact mentioned in Michael Choniates’ epistles. In the south and close to this church of a transitional type was later built the catholic church of Hagios Markos, which is preserved in very good condition. In the 11th century the monastic centre was transferred to its present safer position with the foundation of the Katholikon of Kaisariani Monastery.

Koder J.-Hild F., Hellas und Thessalia, Tabula Imperii Byzantini I, p. 178.