The orientation of Byzantine Churches in eastern Macedonia and Thrace

Abstract

From perhaps the mid-4th century onwards it became customary to give the sanctuary apses of churches an eastern orientation. In most churches, however, the main axis runs in a SE or NE direction and only in a few cases does it follow the rule. From the research carried out so far in the churches of Constantinople and Thessaloniki it has been found that the main axis of these buildings has a SE orientation. Particularly in the case of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the view has been expressed that this particular orientation is connected with the system used to control the natural lighting in its interior. No similar study has yet been carried out for the churches in Thessaloniki, except for that on the Rotunda and Panagia Kosmosoteira at Pherai (Vira). This fact, together with the fact that many churches which lie around the Thessaloniki-Constantinople axis have the same orientation, prompted us to extend our research to the churches situated in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The study includes churches-early Christian, Byzantine and post-Byzantine-that are built on either side of the Thessaloniki-Constantinople axis, between the latitudes of 40°43′ N and 41°2′ N.