The Monastery of Hosios Lukas

Előszó

THE MONASTERY OF
HOSIOS LUKAS
From most ancient times Boiotia has held an especial place in the history and culture of Greece. Important ruins from all periods are scattered throughout its territory. Thebes, the city of Kadmos, Oedipus and Epameinondas and numerous other heroes is as renowned as Athens, Sparta and Corinth. Indeed, during the years of the Empire of Byzantium it occupied a more important position than many other cities in Greece since it was the seat of a General and had a thriving craft industry. This explains why some of the most significant Byzantine monuments exist in Boiotia: the church of Panaghia e Skripou at Orchomenos, the monastery of Hosios Loukas at Steiri, Aghios Nikolaos at Kambia, the monastery of Sagmatas on Mt. Hypatos, the monastery of Hosios Meletios at Kithairona et al.
However, the best known of the Byzantine monasteries is that of Hosios Loukas (ill. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 46), built on the slopes of Mt. Elikon on an echanting site between Boiotia and Phokis. On an adjacent hill the ruins of the ancient city of Steiri are preserved. Indeed, its two churches are built on the site of and with material from the temple of Demeter.
It is approximately 152 kms. from Athens. One travels there along the old road to Thebes or the motorway to Lamia, passing through Leivadhia, tragic Distomo and Steiri. At the 142nd kilometer three roads converge at the point where, according to mythology, Oedipus slew Laios king of Thebes, not knowing he was his father. Vissza