Osios Loukas - Osios Loukas

The monastery Osios Loukas, Greek Όσιος Λουκάς or Lukas monastery is a Byzantine building near the place Arachova in the region Boeotia. Together with the monastery Dafni at Athens and Nea Moni on the island Chios it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage 99.

background

The name of the monastery Osios Loukas, also Hosios Loukas written, means Venerable Luke and goes back to a hermit named Loukaswho lived here in the 10th century. He founded this monastery in a high valley in Boeotia near the village Steirio. A Demeter temple was located here in ancient times. Several of his stones can be found as Spolia in the monastery walls again.

There are two connected churches in the monastery. The bigger church, that Catholicon, was consecrated in 1011. The older and slightly smaller Panagia Church was probably considered to be during the hermit's lifetime Barbara Church built her name Panagia means All saints and stands for Maria. Another name is Theotokos, Theotokos. A small Barbara chapel is now located in a vault under the Katholikon.

38.39513622.7463181 Osios Loukas Monastery

getting there

In the street

Of Arachova from the N48 leads over Zemena Arachovis to Distomo, from there a route leads to Steirio, then down a side street to Osios Loukas Monastery, in Greek Μουή Οσίου Λουκά.

Tourist Attractions

The monastery is open from May to Oct during the day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., otherwise from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fee 3 €. As in most monasteries, appropriate clothing should be worn here, photography - with flash - is permitted with restrictions, and in the case of the sarcophagus with the remains of the hermit is prohibited.

The main church of the monastery, the Catholicon, is dedicated to the hermit Loukas. It is built as a cross-domed church, the dome has a diameter of 9 m and stands on 8 pillars. The walls of the church are partially covered with marble, but the magnificent gold-colored mosaics are particularly worth seeing. The dome, on the other hand, is decorated with frescoes, the cause of which was an earthquake in 1659, to which the mosaics fell victim.

The ones standing next to it Panagia Church is much more simply furnished, its icons are worth seeing here. A colonnade adjoins the Panagia church, it leads to the refectory of the monastery and a small monastery with other Byzantine works.

The crypt under the main church is one of St. Barbara consecrated chapel with a beautiful ceiling painting.

shop

• There is a souvenir shop in front of the monastery, the images of icons are of quite good quality.
• The honey that is produced in the area is also very good. The thyme honey is a very tasty specialty.

kitchen

nightlife

accommodation

Practical advice

trips

literature

Web links

• http://www.osiosloukas.gr/site/ - Official website of Hosios Lukas Monastery