Gouloulis Stavros, Building Construction and Iconographical Remarks on Agios Achillios at Prespa
Summary
In this study, the question of the origin of the architect and his crew who built Agios Achillios Prespa to order be the archbishopric church of Prespa and the state of Samuel (976-1018) are developed in three axes. It is claimed that this happened during the period 1004/5-1014, when according to Ibn Yahya of Antioch, Basil II defeated and subdued Samuel, as well as the historian Paul Stephenson already claimed. It seems that part of the agreement, was the construction of the temple with imperial assistance. 1) The relics of the iconographic program are of Byzantine origin, except for the Greek-language first layer of frescoes, primarily the 18 inscriptions of the thrones of the Archdiocese of Prespa in Holy Bema. This applies: a) to the five saints of the tomb in Diakonikon, whose relics Samuel had removed: Achillios from Larissa, Oecumenios from Trikala, Tryphon from Kotor (next to his fresco a small plant is depicted), a military saint (most probably Saint Nicholas Neos at Vounaina), and a third hierarch (probably Riginos of Skopelos or someone else). b) to the marble slab n.15 where the tree of life and two animals is depicted. The origin of the composition is Byzantine (eastern), like a mosaic in the basilica of Nebo with a camel and an ostrich. 2) It is ascertained that Naos and Diakonikon were built in the purpose to be connected with the specific iconography: Α) Τhe horizontal historical axis (except for the Dodekaorton or saints): 18 inscriptions and probably a representation of the First Ecumenical Synod with Nicholas (and Achillios), the basis of the Roman regularity of the Archdiocese. Β) Τhe vertical spiritual (regenerative) axis, firstly the Prothesis depicting the Incarnation and then the iconography on the Diakonikon, depicting the eschatology with the reduction to the source of life in Paradise (The Diakonikon with the tomb of Saint Achilles the myrovltitis and the relics of the other saints). The architectural and decorative particularity of the church, where minimalism prevails, with simple brickwork, apart from the dome of Prοthesis - Diakonikon, limits the possibilities of comparison with other monuments of the same period. However, this is a huge project, far from the financial abilities of Samuel. 3) The diplomatic dimension of the issue is also developed. The church was built as the largest medieval church in the Balkans, to house the new Archdiocese of the city of Prespa, under the by now submissive ruler Samuel, and with which the ancient Archdiocese of Prima Justiniana (535) revived, founded to subsume the young populations (mainly Slavs) of the Balkans. An almost five centuries policy was now rewarded, so a worthy imperial temple was in need, in order to capture the source of Central Balkan peoples’ source of power. This was a fundamental reason to be sent by emperor Basilios II an imperial architect in order to build the greater byzantine basilica in Balkan.
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