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The Protaton church at Karyes

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	Christ Enthroned
Wall-painting of Christ Enthroned by Manuel Panselinos, circa 1300, the Protaton church, Mount Athos.

	The Resurrection of Christ and his appearance among the disciples
Wall-painting by the painter Manuel Panselinos depicting the Resurrection of Christ and His Appearance among the disciples, circa 1300, the Protaton church, Mount Athos.

The Protaton church at Karyes

Christ Enthroned

The Resurrection of Christ and his appearance among the disciples

Karyes has been the seat of the self-governing body of Mount Athos and the seat of the 'protos' since the 10th century. At that time the settlement comprised some small older monasteries and the residences of representatives of distant ones.

Assemblies of the monks were usually held on 15th August, the Virgin's feast-day, in the Protaton church, the very heart of monasticism on Athos; disputes between monasteries, mainly about land holdings, were settled there.

Dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, the Protaton is a large triple-aisled basilica with narthex. Built in the 10th century it was repaired in the reign of Andronikos II Palaeologos (1282-1328). The wall-paintings (circa 1300) have been attributed to Manuel Panselinos; the artist, whoever he was, created a work that has gained world-wide acclaim in our time.

The extraordinary abundance of painted scenes, free of all abstraction and featuring exquisite figures that come close to defining the quintessence of man, give superb material expression to the vision of Palaeologan art.

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