ΧΡΙΣΤΙΑΝΙΚΑ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΑ Ι.Μ.Ι.Σ. ENG

The church of the All-Holy Virgin in the small settlement of Apano [Upper] Episkopi
of Siteia, which appears to have been used, alternatively, as the seat of the
homonymous Orthodox diocese during the second Byzantine period and as a Latin
diocese during the Venetian occupation, is built in the architectural plan of the threeaisled,
barrel-vaulted basilica. The bishop of Siteia, Gaspare
ALL-HOLY VIRGIN
AT PANO EPISKOPI
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Viviani, and four priests lived in Apano Episkopi in 1566.
The seat of the diocese was transferred to the city of Siteia
subsequently. The crest of the Latin bishop, who was
responsible for the interpolations in this period, survives above
the central door. The three aisles, of which the nave is far larger
than the side ones, is roofed by pointed barrel-vaults, covered
externally by mortar. The barrel-vault of the nave is reinforced
by four buttressing arches with imposts. The wall to the east
ends in three semi-circular apses, the larger of which is the
central one. A simple grave in the form of an arcosolium has
been incorporated in the thickness of the north wall, while traces
of wall painting decoration can be discerned at various points. It
appears that the church was built during the second Byzantine
period from the remains of walls, embedded in the lower section of the present church.
The church initially was, probably, built according to the architectural plan of the threeaisled,
timber-roofed basilica. The three semi-circular apses appear to result from this
original construction phase. Low on the west and south walls remains of double, blind
arcades, which shaped the surfaces plastically, can be seen, as was usual in other basilicas
and cross-in-square churches of Crete during the middle Byzantine period, under the
influence of the architectural tradition of Constantinople. [M. A.]
he monastery of Toplou or the Akrotiriani [All-Holy Virgin of the Cape], as it is
called due to its position in the eastern corner of Crete, is one of the most renowned
and important monasteries of the island. Its establishment probably dates to the late
14th century, a period during which the original catholicon was erected, dedicated to the
Birth of the Theotokos. The monastery acquired its fortified form after its
systematic plundering by Turkish pirates that raided eastern Crete at the
end of the 15th century. Its reconstruction is connected to the Venetian-
Cretan families of the Kornaroi and the Metzoi of Siteia according to
tradition. The great earthquake of 1612
caused serious damage to the monastic
complex, which was restored anew by the
scholar abbot, Gabriel Pantogalos, and with
the contribution of the Venetian state. The
church of the All-Holy Virgin was extended
in this period with the expansion of the
original aisle and the addition of the aisle
of St. John the Theologian to the south.
According to the historical testimonials, the
17th century was a period of prosperity
for the monastery that possessed large
property, not only in eastern Crete, but also
in the city of Chandakas. During the Turkish
occupation, its function continued seamlessly, despite the fact that it endured many raids
and damages, due to the participation of its monks in the liberation struggles. Its building
complex, with a strong fort-like character, develops on three floors around a small
courtyard to the south side of which is
located the catholicon. The renaissance,
two-storey belfry which rises on the roof
of the western wing and the façade of
the catholicon in which ancient, and
contemporary with its erection,
inscriptions have been embedded, such
as that of the abbot, Gabriel Pantogalos,
in elegiac couplets, are characteristic of
the period during which the monastery
received its final form. The interior of
the catholicon whose original building
today occupies the place of the
sanctuary, presents special interest and
has wall painting decoration of the
second half of the 14th century with
scenes from the cycles of Christ and the
All-Holy Virgin.
All-Holy Virgin ‘the Lady of the Cape.’
HOLY MONASTERY OF
TOPLOU
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