The St. Mary of Blachernae Church ( sq, Kisha e Shën Mëri Vllahernës) is a Byzantine church in Berat, Albania. It is named after the famous

Church of St. Mary of Blachernae The Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae (full name in Greek: Θεοτόκος των Βλαχερνών (pr. ''Theotókos ton Vlachernón''); Turkish name: ''Meryem Ana Kilisesi'') is an Eastern Orthodox church in Mustafa Paşa Bostanı Sokak in ...

, near the

Palace of Blachernae The Palace of Blachernae ( el, ). was an imperial Byzantine residence in the suburb of Blachernae, located in the northwestern section of Constantinople (today located in the quarter of Ayvansaray in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey). The area of the pala ...

in Constantinople. It is believed that the church was built on the foundations of a ruined 5th century church that existed at the same place. The church is regarded as one of Berat's most important historical and architectural monuments and is a key tourist attraction for both Berat and Albania. The church dates mainly from the 13th century and contains impressive

fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...

es and icons on its interior walls and ground from the 16th century. The paintings that dates from the 16th century were mostly produced by Nicholas Onufri, the son of the more famous Onufri. The church has a rectangular narthex.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary Of Blachernae Church (Berat) 13th-century Eastern Orthodox church buildings Cultural Monuments of Albania Churches in Berat Tourist attractions in Berat Byzantine church buildings in Albania Eastern Orthodox church buildings in Albania

See also

References