Listed 1 sub titles with search on: Places of worship for wider area of: "EPISKOPI Village CHANIA" .
EPISKOPI (Village) CHANIA
The Rotunda of Michael Archangelos is here. The bishopric church of
Kissamos of the second Byzantine and Venetian period was this church of Michael
Archangelos (Rotunda) in Episkopi, Kissamos. Its shape is unique on Crete, and
it is rather close to a Byzantine basilica with a dome (rotunda). It has a very
large dome in the middle which dominates the church architecture. Externally the
dome presents a step structure, reducing its diameter higher up in the church.
The church and the surrounding bishopric buildings have exterior brick decorations.
Within the church, arches support the central space under the cylindrical dome.
The mosaic floor is formed from white and black pebbles, often depicting heart-shaped
leaves. The church has remnants of wall paintings. It may be closed for renovations.
In May 1994 excavations around the church revealed a Byzantine graveyard dated
circa 700 A.D.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Crete TOURnet URL below, which contains images.
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