Thessaloniki is a well-known tourist hot-spot, but also a religious destination for orthodox pilgrims. It has many churches, cathedrals and monasteries, one of the most interesting being Latomou.
It is located in Ano Poly and dates back to the 5th or 6th century when the chapel was built on the ruins of a roman building. It’s said that it was constructed by Theodora, daughter of Maximian Galerius, who was a secret follower of orthodoxy. She commissioned a beautiful mosaic to be placed in the apse.
At the start, this temple was devoted to Christ the Savior (some sources say — Zechariah the prophet), but by the end of the 19th century, it was mistakenly thought to be dedicated to st. David. Today, however, it is named after the VI century ascetic David who lived in Thessaloniki.
The Latomou Monastery was transformed into a mosque in the 16th century, or, according to another source, in 1430. It was situated away from the metropolis center, so numerous scholars think that the turks began by changing the most important churches in the downtown districts into mosques, and then began to focus on Latoma. It was only in 1921 that the monastery returned to christianity. At the same time, frescoes and mosaics were uncovered from beneath the plaster layer. In the late 1980s, along with other early christian sites, the monastery was added to the UNESCO world heritage list.
St. David’s church, in its original form, was a square building on one side and a cross of the same length on the other. This is an archetypal example of an early cross-shaped building. Atop the building was a dome, which was eventually replaced by a tiled roof. Regrettably, the western side — where the doors were located — was knocked down, so now the entrance is on the south side.
The Latomou Monastery had a minaret that was added during ottoman rule, yet only its foundation and a staircase remain. Nowadays, just the church of st. David is still standing, giving the Monastery a miniature appearance. It’s been kept in great condition, with a courtyard that provides a stunning view of the whole city from its lookout point.
The church of st. David within the Latomou Monastery is awe-inspiring due to its miraculously preserved interior. Centuries-old mosaic adorns the apse of the altar, featuring the youthful Jesus with a scroll and images of evangelists, with four rivers of heaven flowing beneath his feet. The intricate frame and many internal elements of the mosaic were almost lost during the period of iconoclasm; they were covered with bull skin and then plastered, yet somehow it was the leather that shielded the mosaic from severe damage. After an earthquake in the IX century, the mosaic was uncovered, still dazzling with the vibrancy of colors and the skill of its images.
In the mid-1970s, some frescoes, supposedly dating back to the 12th century, were discovered in Thessaloniki. This is the only known example of painting from that time period in the city. The most noteworthy one is the fresco of «the bathing of Christ», which features Salome giving the Saviour a bath. Most of the frescoes were created during the byzantine period, whilst the others appeared later on during the Palaiologos dynasty. Additionally, the temple has marble decorations of crosses, leaves and vines.
At the termination of st. Sophia street, the monastery sits. Utilizing bus number 22 and alighting at Osios David is the most convenient way to get to the Monastery.
Around Latomou Monastery, there are many remarkable places worth visiting, like the nearby Vlatadon Monastery and the whole Ano Poli (upper town) area with its remarkable history and quaint ancient streets.
Taking pictures inside the temple is not allowed.
