Results Abbey monastery and convent Mesopotam

MONASTERY OF MESOPOTAM

Abbey – Monastery – Convent
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Mesopotam, Manastiri i Shën Nikollës, Mesopotam, Albania
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2024
Recommended
2024

Preserves one of Albania's largest and most beautiful Byzantine churches, built in 1225. But few frescoes remain.

Founded in the 11th century, the Orthodox monastery of St. Nicholas of Mesopotam (Manastiri i Shën Kollit ne Mesopotam, Ιερά Μονή Αγίου Νικολάου Μεσοπόταμου/Iera Moni Agiou Nikolaou Mesopotamou) mainly preserves a superb Byzantine church. Built in 1225, it has survived many earthquakes and looting. Its architecture is quite astonishing. With its 10 m high walls, topped by four domes (originally seven), this is one of the largest Byzantine churches in Albania. It was built on the site of an ancient Greek temple using materials from the city of Phœnicè. The exterior walls feature stone blocks carved in half-round relief, depicting eagles, dragons and lions. Another unique feature is the two identical naves adjoining each other. Some researchers have suggested that this double nave may have been designed to house two distinct places of worship, one Orthodox, the other Catholic. This symbol of the union of the two "currents" of Christianity in the same space could be the origin of the name of the village of Mesopotam/Mesopotamos, itself situated between two arms of the Bistrica. Since 2015, the interior has been undergoing restoration with the help of Unesco. Most of the 13th-century frescoes have disappeared, but the south wall is adorned with a portrait of Emperor Constantine IX Monomachus (11th century) praying before an icon of Christ. The apse retains a colorful Orante.

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Members' reviews on MONASTERY OF MESOPOTAM

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Cortofred72
Visited in june 2017
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Sur la route entre Saranda et Gjirokastra, le monastère est bien fléché à Mesopotam. Par contre, on arrive devant un portail métallique fermé qu'il faut ouvrir pour pénétrer d'abord dans un cimetière puis devant les murs du monastère. Le gardien attend pour vous vendre un billet à 200 leks qui permet de prendre des photos à l'extérieur (architecture intéressante mais pas impressionnante) et de pénétrer dans le chaos d'échafaudages à l'intérieur :on ne voit pas grand'chose. Prévoir une lampe de poche et le 3200ASA pour prendre des photos...
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The church is sometimes open. I was lucky enough to be able to visit it at the same time as a group, but the inside is in catering and is crowded scaffolding so that the frescoes are not easily visible.
Outside is worth the trip in any case. If the site is officially closed, the first latticed enclosure seems always open and welcoming because it contains a cemetery ouivert to the public. Then it is very easy to visit the metal door closed to enter on the esplanade and tour imposing building
tanei
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The monastery is in ruins and its completely walled church, holding standing only thanks to metal strings and other emergency measures. A sign indicates that the place is closed in waiting for you restoration. The place is not worth of it less the visit. While touring of the church, you can observe some sculptures illyriennes in half-round- bose on blocks used in the construction of the church.

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