Mone Varlaám Meteoron
Symvole ste monasteriake architektonike
By (author) Iōánnēs E. Vlachostérgios
| The monastic architecture of Meteora during the late Post-Byzantine period (mid-17th to late 18th century) and the beginning of the 19th century, presents a morphological and volumetric re-development in terms of protruding timber constructions (alleys, balconies, “sachnisi”). This applies to the buildings meant for accommodation, giving them a dynamic and picturesque appearance, which is considered to be an overall impact of secular architecture on the monastic complexes of Meteora. So, during the early Post-Byzantine period, the monastic complex of Varlaam was also influenced by secular architectural tradition. This study took place also on site over a long period (1993-2003), during the restoration works that were carried out by the 7th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities. At that time, most of the buildings of the monument studied were “open”, ready to narrate their building history and to reveal their construction “secrets”. During this period, for the first time, Meteora was recognised by Greek law as a Holy Place, and its boundaries were officially defined on the map. Τhe new research findings regarding the Monastery of Varlaam are:
1. Unpublished inscriptions from the monastic treasures that are exhibited in the new museum of the monastery (chapter 2.1). 2. For the first time, the routes leading to the monastery were studied (chapter 2.4). 3. We identified the katholikon’s building phases (chapter 2.6). 4. We identified the refectory’s building phases (chapter 2.9). 5. We identified that the estia (cooking place) was built after the refectory’s second phase (chapter 2.10). 6. The estia was located in the initial nucleus of the basement (with its small vaulted windows on its west side) of the present three-storey building, which accommodates the monks’ cells (chapter 2.13.1). 7. We identified the building phases of the earlier floors of the older north ground floor building, which currently accommodates the visitors’ cells. The floors located were made of thick boards at the east side and of hand-made thick square clay tiles at the west (chapter 2.13.2). 8. We also identified most of the modern (done after 1930) architectural interventions in many buildings, such as the two-storey archontariki-guesthouse of the 1930s (chapter 2.14), as well as in other structures (chapter 2.15). On the basis of all the research findings including inscriptions and written sources, we were capable of recording and mapping the monastery’s building history on general plans illustrating the building phases of the monastery as a whole, from the 14th century onwards. |
- By (author) Iōánnēs E. Vlachostérgios
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