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Church of St. Athanasius of Mouzaki
St. Athanasius of Mouzaki (Greek: Άγιος Αθανάσιος του Μουζάκη) is a Greek Orthodox church located in Kastoria, Greece.[1][2] It was built in 1383–84 by the brothers Teodor II Muzaka and Stoya Muzaka of the house of Muzaka, a noble Albanian family that controlled the city at the time, and dedicated to St. Athanasius[1][2] It is considered one of the most important monuments of 14th century Kastoria and is the last church built in Kastoria before its annexation by the Ottoman Empire.[2] DecorationsThe church is decorated with scenes of saints dressed in Byzantine clothing, a typical feature of Byzantine iconography. The frescoes are remarkable for depicting for the first time in Byzantine iconography, Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary in imperial costume.[3] The depiction of Virgin Mary as a queen is an atypical feature for the Byzantine iconography.[4] Another unusual feature of the church is that, despite the fact that St. Alexander is traditionally not included among the ranks of military saints,[5] the church of St Athanasius of Mouzaki is decorated with a portrait of St. Alexander and St. Mercurios in military clothing. Within the church is also a fresco of Saint George who is painted rather strange and particularly odd in the Byzantine-styled art. He is wearing a mantle and a cloak that has a double-headed eagle with a star in the middle, similar to the one that the Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos rewarded to Andrea II Muzaka from his victory over Vukašin of Serbia. This could possibly imply that during the Middle Ages, Andrea was viewed as a great warrior of God by the Albanian people.[6][7][8] LegacyThe church influenced greatly the artistic production of Kastoria and Western Macedonia in the late 14th and early 15th century.[9][clarification needed] GalleryImages of the Church
See alsoSources Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint Athanasius of Mouzakis Church.
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