Middle Byzantine Splendor in Greece: The Hosios Loukas Monastery

In this installment of Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages, a monastery atop a mountain has been magnificently preserved.

Located near the Greek town of Distomo, in Boeotia, the Hosios Loukas monastery is surrounded by natural beauty and follows the model of ancient temples. The complex comprises several blocks of cells, a bell tower, a refectory, and two adjoining churches at the center. The walls use the cloisonné masonry technique and are decorated with red brick ornaments. Arched windows, projecting apses, and varying roof lines enhance the designs of the textured walls. yiannisscheidt/Shutterstock

The monastery of Hosios Loukas is located on the western slopes of Mount Helicon near the ancient acropolis of Steiris in central Greece. A treasure of 11th-century Byzantine architecture, the historic complex is considered to be the most striking example of the second golden age of Byzantine art in Greece, also known as the Middle Byzantine style.

Founded in the early 10th century by St. Luke, a local hermit famous for predicting Emperor Romanos’s conquest of Crete, the walled monastery comprises several buildings. Two orthodox churches stand side-by-side with a crypt nearby that houses the saint’s relics.