Dome interior at the Great Lavra

Photographer

Horlbeck, Frank R.

Date

• June 8, 1986

Summary

• Interior view of the main dome in the catholicon (main or communal church) at the Great Lavra monastery. In the center at the apex is Christ Pantokrator (all-ruler) surrounded by several registers of angels and saints. At the top register is a representation of the heavenly liturgy. Just below is a group of angels with staffs or spears. Between the windows are two rows of prophets - one in smaller roundels and the bottom row with full figures. The evangelists occupy the triangular spaces in the pendentives. The catholicon dates to 963, but the painting program in the interior of the catholicon was executed by the Cretan painter Theophanes in 1535. The Great Lavra is the first coenobitic monastery established on Mount Athos. (Lavra means a monastic complex with a large population). The monastery was founded by St. Athanasius in 957 (with a chrysobull from Emperor Nikephorus Phokas).