573. Chios
573. Chios
THE ISLANDS
328
573. Chios, Mesta, Saint John (Χίος, Μεστά, Άγιος Ιωάννης)
Nea Moni. (12)
The monastery of Nea Moni is thought to have been spon-
sored by Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos
and the sisters Zoe and Theodora Porphyrogenita. From what
is known so far, the construction of the catholicon and its or-
namentation with mosaics started in 1042 and was continued
beyond 1055. For many centuries the monastery had been
playing a key role in the island’s life and its catholicon was
an architectural model for many subsequent churches. Its de-
cline started in the 19th c., continuing with its destruction in
1822, and was finalised with the earthquake in 1881. Besides
the catholicon, there is a refectory, a cistern, two chapels,
the tower, and the cells that have survived or been restored
after 1881. The catholicon is a domed octagon also known
as an island-type church and features an esonarthex and a
573. Chios, Nea Moni, catholicon, ground plan (Χίος, Νέα Μονή,
καθολικό, κάτοψη)
