Saint Stephen

The church has a square plan. Its main feature  is  the central dome with a diameter of ca. 15 feet which is based on a tall drum above four columns. Its diakonikon (the chamber next to the apse from the south side) has not survived but  it is evident that the apse consisted of three parts. As the apse walls project beyond the width of the naos, it must have created a large space.

In its first phase, also a south chapel was a part of the naos but later it was destroyed. The main entrance today is through a portico covered with a wooden roof. The portico is standing on four columns which consist of reused material. Most surviving sculptures are dated to the 6th century, while some others like the capitals of the lateral arcades and some of the cornice patterns might date to the ninth century.

After the conversion to a mosque, a mihrab covered most of the apse and a minaret was added. An earthquake in 1855 damaged the minaret which was rebuild after that. In 1920-1922, the building briefly became a church again. During this phase, it became evident that the monastery was originally decorated with mosaics. A restoration in 1995-1996 uncovered also fragments of opus sectile.

EKATERINI MITSIOU