PANAGIA THEOTOKOS CHURCH OF TRIKOMO

The church of the "All-Holy-Mother-of-God" (Panagia Theodokou Kilisesi, Ιερός Ναός Παναγίας Θεοτόκου/Ieros Naos Panagias Theotokou) boasts precious ^12th-century frescoes. The church has two symmetrical naves, one built in the ^12th century for the Greek Orthodox to the south, the other added in the ^15th century for the Latin Catholics to the north. Deconsecrated in 1974, it became an uninteresting "Icon Museum" (İkon Müzesi) in 1991. It's the frescoes in the Orthodox section that are worth a visit here: on the left as you enter, a vast program is devoted to the theme of the Nativity, more specifically the birth of Mary and her parents, Joachim and Anne. These works are remarkable for their vitality, color and the freedom of the scenes chosen. They were painted in the ^12th century by the same group of anonymous artists who painted the church of Panagia tis Asinou, near Nikitari on the Troodos. The ^15th-century frescoes on the Catholic side illustrate the meeting of Latin and Byzantine artistic currents. The themes seem to indicate a reconciliation between the two communities. Note the depiction of the Virgin of the Blachernas, patroness of Constantinople. Or the dome, added in the ^15th century to the center of the two naves. It is dominated by a Christ Pantocrator ("all-powerful"), who here reigns over both Orthodox and Catholics.