Ossios Loukas Monastery Óssios Loukás (Hosios Loukas)

The two churches, the principal church dedicated to St Luke and the other to the Theotókos (Mother of God), both follow the Middle Byzantine pattern of the domed cruciform church. The deep narthex (lití) of the church of the Theotókos is characteristic of a monastic church. The monastery was damaged during the World War II and was thoroughly restored between 1953 and 1962, particular attention being given to the splendid mosaics dating from the first half of the 11th century. In the course of the restoration work a number of windows which had previously been walled up were reopened, making the principal church lighter and enhancing the spatial effect.

Three factors contribute to the powerful effect of the principal church. As at Dafní and the Néa Moní, the large central dome, borne on eight piers, spans both the central and the lateral aisles; the marble facing of the walls - missing at Dafní - has been preserved; and most of the mosaics, which were the work of artists from Constantinople and are of the highest quality, have been preserved or restored.

The subjects of the mosaics, which are notable for their dramatic vigor, are arranged according to the hierarchical rules which had been established by the ninth century. In the narthex are scenes from the Passion, together with figures of angels, saints and the Evangelists. Over the doorway into the church is a figure of Christ as the Light of the World. The mosaic of Christ in the central dome was destroyed when the dome collapsed in 1593.

In the squinches under the dome are the Nativity (SE), the Presentation in the Temple (SW) and the Baptism of Christ (NW). In the dome over the sanctuary are the Etimasia (the Preparation of the Throne) and the Descent of the Holy Ghost (Pentecost), in the apse the Mother of God as Panayía Platytéra.

In the north aisle, on the left, is a portrait-like figure of Ossios Loukas, who is given the style of saint, though he was never officially canonized. Opposite is the shrine containing the saint's relics, directly above his sarcophagus in the crypt.

In addition to St Luke other saints of the period of only local importance are included in the iconographic scheme, among them St Nikon Metanoeite, who evangelized Sparta (west end of south aisle) and St Luke the Gournikiote (west end of north aisle).

The chapel of St Barbara (Ayía Varvára) has been preserved as the crypt of the principal church. It contains the sarcophagus of St Luke and two other sarcophagi, traditionally believed to contain the remains of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos II (959-963) and Empress Theophano. There are a number of wall paintings, including a Last Supper (on the south side of the east wing).