The beginning of monasticism in Thessaloniki: Thessalonican martyrs and monastic establishments, which appeared in town till the opening of iconoclasm (726)
Abstract
This article deals with the expansion of Christianity in Thessaloniki, as well as the organization of its first Christian church, in 49 A.D. It refers to the Thessalonican martyrs who found death (martyrdom) during the persecutions of the emperor Diokletianos (like Domninos, Florentios, greatmartyr Dimi- trios and his student Nestor, Luppos, Anysia, Matrona, Alexander, Theodoulos and Agathopus, Agapi, Irena, Chionia and many others) and mostly it discusses the appearance of monasticism in Thessaloniki.
The basic conclusion of the article is that monasticism appeared in the town -according to the archaeological evidences and the written sources- most likely during the 5th century. According to the information we have, untili the beginning of Iconoclasm (726), there were three known monasteries in Thessaloniki: a) The monastery of martyrs Theodore and Mercury the Koukouliates or Aproeton; it was established before 465-470 and it was there where holy David (450-535/41), who came from Mesopotamia, practised solitary life, b) The monastery of the prophet Zacharia (Latomou) in the location «Latomia», which was established in the end of the 5th century and c) the monastery of Saint Matrona, located outside the walls of Thessaloniki with strong fortification. It existed about the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 7th century.
The period of Iconoclasm had bad consequences on the town’s monastic life. After its end, monasticism in Thessaloniki started to develop again in support with the appearance of the first hermits in the Holy Mountain and the establishment of Atho’s divine state.
Article Details
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Χαριζάνης Γ. (2004). The beginning of monasticism in Thessaloniki: Thessalonican martyrs and monastic establishments, which appeared in town till the opening of iconoclasm (726). Makedonika, 34(1), 35–65. https://doi.org/10.12681/makedonika.868
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