DEFINITION

Cross-vaulted church: Church architectural type that makes its appearance in the second half of the 13th century primarily in mainland Greece. They are usually small, barrel-vaulted churches, single-naved or three-aisled. A barrel-vault is interrupted by a second transverse and highly placed barrel-vault. Thus, the shape of a cross is clearly formed in the roof, hence the name of this church type. The church has many variations. The church of Hagia Triada in Kranidi in Argolida (1245) is an older specimen of this church type.