The Influence of Eastern and Western Architectural Models on the Churches Built in the Province Macedonia in the 5th-6th C.

Abstract

Most of the basilicas built in the 5-6th C. on the territory of today’s Republic of Macedonia that numbers over 400 are three nave and have central semicircular altar apse. Yet, there are models that show direct influences from Constantinople, Palestine and likely Italy. The political and church events in the 5th C. especially related to the bishop of Milan, and the 6th C. event related to the vicar of Thessalonica seem to have large impact on the models of the erected churches. Some scholars mention the influence of the architecture from Dacia Mediterania, but the very little number of churches erected there and the way the Christianity have been spread shows other picture, that Krautheimer have pointed in his research decades ago. The rare examples of polygonal apse churches and churches with flat apses from outside, together with the very unusual church from the vicinity of Stip with elaborated plan that imitates an important Palestine church,speak of Eastern architecture popularity and following of modern and rare models that were used for martyria and important church commemorative buildings on the East in the first centuries of Christianity. Rotundas-martyria from Konjuh and Krupiste, ambulatories and crypts that were approached from the outer side of the altar apse are part of the very rich vocabulary of the local architects and testify of the good taste and modern approach to church architectural solutions of the founders.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n3p425