Church
Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour (Metamorfosis tou Sotiros), Sotira (Famagusta)
Sotira, Famagusta District · Late Byzantine Period; Middle Byzantine Period
Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour (Metamorfosis tou Sotiros), Sotira (Famagusta): a church in Sotira, Famagusta District. 8 dated records of work on it, 1989 to 2014, with sources.
What was done when
9 records- 1989
Fragmentary early 13th-century frescoes found during repair under later additions reinforcing the dome.
Repair and conservation
Athanassios Papageorghiou, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1989», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 114 (1990), pp. 941-985, pp. 984-985
- 1989
The 13th-century wall paintings on the pilasters and arches carrying the dome of this single-aisled church came to light in 1989, during conservation work in its interior by the Department of Antiquities under Athanasios Papageorghiou.
Repair and conservation
As printed
“Οι τυχογραφίες του 13ου αιώνα που κοσμούν τις παραστάσεις και τα τόξα που φέρουν τον τρούλο του μονόχωρου αυτού ναού, ήρθαν στο φως το 1989”
Athanassios Papageorghiou, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1989», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 114 (1990), pp. 941-985, pp. 984-985
Also: Maria Parani, «Ο Ναός της Μεταμόρφωσης στη Σωτήρα Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία – Αρχιτεκτονική – Τοιχογραφίες», recorded conference paper, Το αρχαιολογικό έργο του Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου, 2017, Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus, published on YouTube 2018-02-27, at 0:01:59 Online
- 1994
Cleaning and conservation of frescoes and iconostases.
Repair and conservation
Dimos Christou, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1994», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 119 (1995), pp. 799-838, p. 838
- 1998
Church with frescoes; restoration in 1998.
Repair and conservation
Sophoklis Hadjisavvas, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1998», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 123 (1999), pp. 599-633, p. 631
- 1999
Church; wall paintings restored in 1999.
Repair and conservation
Sophoklis Hadjisavvas, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1999», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 124 (2000), pp. 665-699, p. 698
- 2000
Church; frescoes and iconostasis restored in 2000.
Repair and conservation
Sophoklis Hadjisavvas, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 2000», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 125 (2001), pp. 743-777, p. 776
- 2005
Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour at Sotira, district of Famagusta; listed among monuments restored.
Repair and conservation
Pavlos Flourentzos, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 2005», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 130 (2006), pp. 873-919 (trans. Sabine Fourrier), p. 918
- 2014
A Leventis Foundation research programme of the University of Cyprus on the church, its architecture and its wall paintings, with the permit and participation of the Department of Antiquities, ran from 1 June 2014 to 30 November 2016; at least four layers of wall paintings were identified.
Study
Maria Parani, «Ο Ναός της Μεταμόρφωσης στη Σωτήρα Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία – Αρχιτεκτονική – Τοιχογραφίες», recorded conference paper, Το αρχαιολογικό έργο του Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου, 2017, Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus, published on YouTube 2018-02-27, at 0:01:59 Online
- second half of the 13th century
The wall paintings of the second half of the 13th century include an Annunciation, the prophets David and Solomon in a Deesis-type arrangement, the Crucifixion, the Second Coming, evangelists, apostles, and military and other saints; this Second Coming is the second earliest to survive in Cyprus.
Study
As printed
“Η Δευτέρα Παρουσία στη Σωτήρα είναι η δεύτερη αρχαιότερη απεικόνιση της εντυπωσιακής αυτής σύνθεσης που μας έχει σωθεί στην Κύπρο”
Maria Parani, «Ο Ναός της Μεταμόρφωσης στη Σωτήρα Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία – Αρχιτεκτονική – Τοιχογραφίες», recorded conference paper, Το αρχαιολογικό έργο του Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου, 2017, Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus, published on YouTube 2018-02-27, at 0:10:02 Online
Pictures
3Department of Antiquities of Cyprus3 photographs1936–1937
- Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/28501: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Sotira (Famagusta), Church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour), south-west view of church», Photograph taken: 1936 Online
- Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/28498: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Sotira (Famagusta), Church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour), north-east pier (looking south), wall painting», Photograph taken: 1937 Online
- Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, negative P1017515, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/27897: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Sotira (Famagusta), Church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour), north wall, north-east pier, wall paintings (P1017515)» Online
Sources
- 1.Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, negative P1017515, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/27897: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Sotira (Famagusta), Church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour), north wall, north-east pier, wall paintings (P1017515)» Online
- 2.Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/28498: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Sotira (Famagusta), Church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour), north-east pier (looking south), wall painting», Photograph taken: 1937 Online
- 3.Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/28501: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Sotira (Famagusta), Church of Metamorfosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour), south-west view of church», Photograph taken: 1936 Online
- 4.Athanassios Papageorghiou, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1989», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 114 (1990), pp. 941-985, pp. 984-985
- 5.Dimos Christou, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1994», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 119 (1995), pp. 799-838, p. 838
- 6.Sophoklis Hadjisavvas, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1998», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 123 (1999), pp. 599-633, p. 631
- 7.Sophoklis Hadjisavvas, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1999», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 124 (2000), pp. 665-699, p. 698
- 8.Sophoklis Hadjisavvas, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 2000», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 125 (2001), pp. 743-777, p. 776
- 9.Pavlos Flourentzos, «Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 2005», Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 130 (2006), pp. 873-919 (trans. Sabine Fourrier), p. 918
- 10.Maria Parani, «Ο Ναός της Μεταμόρφωσης στη Σωτήρα Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία – Αρχιτεκτονική – Τοιχογραφίες», recorded conference paper, Το αρχαιολογικό έργο του Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου, 2017, Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus, published on YouTube 2018-02-27, at 0:01:59 Online
- 11.Maria Parani, «Ο Ναός της Μεταμόρφωσης στη Σωτήρα Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία – Αρχιτεκτονική – Τοιχογραφίες», recorded conference paper, Το αρχαιολογικό έργο του Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου, 2017, Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus, published on YouTube 2018-02-27, at 0:10:02 Online
- 12.Maria Parani, «Ο Ναός της Μεταμόρφωσης στη Σωτήρα Αμμοχώστου: Ιστορία – Αρχιτεκτονική – Τοιχογραφίες», recorded conference paper, Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο του Πανεπιστημίου Κύπρου, 2017, Archaeological Research Unit - University of Cyprus, published on YouTube 2018-02-10, at 0:19:52 Online
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