Byzantine Magnets

Istanbul

Chora church (Turkish: Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, or Kariye Kilisesi — the Chora Museum, Mosque or Church) is probably one of the most beautiful museums of Istanbul. It's relatively difficult to find, compared to marvels such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi palace, the Basilica Cistern, that are very close the one to the other, but it's an absolute "must see"!!! It's mostly famous for its fantastic mosaics (considered the best sample of late Byzantine art, also know as "The Palaeologian Renaissance") but you can also see some fantastic frescoes, like this one. Chora church is part of the "Historic areas of Istanbul", World Heritage Site by UNESCO

This ancient cross reminds us of Jesus Christ, who is the light (PHOS) and life (ZOE) of this world (John 8:12).

An old marble carving forgotten in an olive grove

Part of the Ancient Rome, Ancient History and Roman Legions Collection The Imperial Chi Rho symbol of the first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine depicted on Byzantine and Late Roman Legionary Shields

An all-over print made from an original photo of a gilded ceiling coffer at California's Heart Castle.

Female Bust in Flower Garden with Birds

Hagia Sophia, is one of the most important monuments of Istanbul and definitely the most emblematic of the Byzantine Era. It is considered the epitome of the Byzantine architecture and one of its most impressive elements is its magnificent dome, with a diameter of 32 meters, standing 52 meters above ground level. The dome seems to be standing on thin air, as there are no columns to support it. During the Ottoman Era it was turned into a mosque and finally it became a museum in the modern Turkish state. Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia) is part of the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", World Heritage Site by UNESCO. EXIF DATA: Focal length: 47mm Aperture: f/14 Shutter speed: 6 sec. ISO: 200 EQUIPMENT: Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark 3 Lens: Can...

The church of Aghios Athanasios, in the old part of Preveza town, Epirus, Greece.

The medieval, byzantine "castletown" of Mystras, close to Sparta (or "Sparti") town, Lakonia, Peloponnese, Greece. Here you can see the church of the abandoned Perivleptos monastery. In its interior you can see some impressive frescoes. In 1261, the Latins ceded Mystras and other forts in the southeastern Peloponnese as ransom for Villehardouin, who had been captured in Pelagonia, and Michael VIII Palaeologus made the city the seat of the new Despotate of the Morea. It remained the capital of the despotate, ruled by relatives of the Byzantine emperor, although the Venetians still controlled the coast and the islands. Mystras and the rest of Morea became relatively prosperous after 1261, compared to the rest of the empire. Under the despo...

A fragment of a lovely mosaic floor representing Summer. 3rd or 4th century, Turkey and visible at the Getty Museum.

Nessebar old town in Bulgaria and old wind mill at sunrise. Nesebar is one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. UNESCO heritage site

Nessebar old town in Bulgaria and old wind mill at sunrise. Nesebar is one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. UNESCO heritage site

A beautiful balcony ("Ardamis Hotel") in the wonderful medieval "castletown" of Monemvassia ("Malvasia"), Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece

Sunset photo taken next to the Tower of Ouranoupolis ("Prosphorios Tower"), Halkidiki ("Chalkidiki"), Macedonia, Greece. Ouranoupolis is the gate to Mount Athos, known as "Agion Oros", which means "Holy Mountain", a unique Monastic "republic", declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Inside the castle

One of the domes in Chora Church, with a beautiful mosaic of Jesus Christ ("Pantokrator"), Istanbul, Turkey. Chora church (Turkish: Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, or Kariye Kilisesi — the Chora Museum, Mosque or Church) is probably one of the most beautiful museums of Istanbul. It's relatively difficult to find, compared to marvels such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi palace, the Basilica Cistern, that are very close the one to the other, but it's an absolute "must see"!!! It's mostly famous for its fantastics mosaics, like this one of Jesus Christ - Pantokrator (considered the best sample of late Byzantine art, also know as "The Palaeologian Renaissance")") but you can also see some fantastic frescoes.

Inside view of the byzantine church of Panagia Parigoritissa (13th century A.D.), Arta town, Epirus, Greece. EXIF DATA 16 mm 4 sec f/11 ISO 200 Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

MONEMVASIA, LACONIA, PELOPONNESE, GREECE. Sleepy cats on the central alley of the medieval "castletown".

Interior view of the main church of Sumela monastery, which in fact is a "cavechurch" with some beautiful frescoes on the rocks of the cave. Trabzon Province, Black Sea, Turkey Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

This is Varlaam Monastery, one of the 6 still "active" monasteries of Meteora (Trikala, Thessaly, Greece). Once upon a time there were 24 monasteries in this exciting region. The first one who climbed this rock, was an anchorite, named Varlaam around 1350 (that's where the name of the monastery comes from), who built a small church. After his death, the rock remained uninhabited for more than a century. In the beggining of the 16th century, two brothers, Nektarios and Theofanis climbed the rock. In 1518 they started reconstructing the church that Varlaam had built, and also built two more churchs. With the help of other monks that later climbed the rock they built the monastic "complex" that you can see in the photo and covers almost...

The seaside walls of the medieval "castletown" of Monemvasia (Lakonia, Peloponnese, Greece) *EXIF DATA* Focal length: 16mm (full frame) Aperture: f/22 Shutter speed: 2 sec ISO: 50

Roman mosaic in The Antakya Archaeology Museum, Hatay Region, Turkey

A simple yet elegant vector of a detail of the face of the Apostle, Paul.

Monemvasia (or "Malvasia") is not just one castle, but two! It’s not just one town, but two, the “Lower town” and the “Upper town”. The “Lower Town” remains in perfectly good condition, and it’ s one of the most romantic destinations in Greece, where you can find some of the most picturesque, hotels, guesthouses, taverns and cafes. The “Upper Town” is mostly ruined and only the majestic byzantine church of Agia Sofia remains in good condition. The whole rock of Monemvasia is a protected area and archaeological site. So, here's a photo of the "Lower Town" from the "Upper Town"

This is Varlaam Monastery, one of the 6 still "active" monasteries of Meteora (Trikala, Thessaly, Greece). Once upon a time there were 24 monasteries in this exciting region. The first one who climbed this rock, was an anchorite, named Varlaam around 1350 (that's where the name of the monastery comes from), who built a small church. After his death, the rock remained uninhabited for more than a century. In the beggining of the 16th century, two brothers, Nektarios and Theofanis climbed the rock. In 1518 they started reconstructing the church that Varlaam had built, and also built two more churchs. With the help of other monks that later climbed the rock they built the monastic "complex" that you can see in the photo and covers almost...

Interior of Agitra ("Panagia Odigitria") church, one of the hidden byzantine "jewels" in the region of Mani, Lakonia, Peloponnese, Greece. EXIF DATA 28mm 1/125 f/11 ISO 200 Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Night view (1 hour take) of the the byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, the only building remaining in good condition on the "Upper" castle of Monemvasia, Lakonia. On the contrary, on the "Lower" castle of Monemvasia, you can see a perfectly well preserved and very romantic medieval settlement. Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

View of the medieval castletown of Monemvasia or "Malvasia" (also known as the "Greek Gibraltar") from the sea. Monemvasia is not just one castle, but two! It's not just one town, but two, the "Lower town" and the "Upper town". The "Lower Town" remains in perfectly good condition, and it' s one of the most romantic destinations in Greece, where you can find some of the most picturesque, hotels, guesthouses, taverns and cafes. The "Upper Town" is mostly ruined and only the majestic byzantine church of Agia Sofia remains in good condition. The whole rock of Monemvasia is a protected area and archaeological site

Impressive view of the medieval "castletown" of Monemvasia from the sea. Lakonia, Peloponnese, Greece. Monemvasia is often called "The Greek Gibraltar"

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Inside the church of Archangel Michael at Pedoulas village, Cyprus. It is one of the 10 byzantine churches of Troodos mountain listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Christ in the Paten. An illustration of the vision of the Christ Child in the Paten simplified, the invisible reality of the Eucharist. Including a quote from Ambrose of Milan

A vector of a Russian outline of the Icon of the Transfiguration from a Russian Icon Pattern book.

A simple yet elegant vector of a detail of the face of the real Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas of Myra

Byzantine fortress ruins of the ancient Thracian settlement Mesembria. The old town of Nessebar on the Black Sea coast, UNESCO world heritage, Burgas Region, Bulgaria