The Cathedral / Basilica B

 cathedral, basilica, ruins

The Cathedral of Byllis, which includes the basilica, the baptistery and the Episcopal Palace, constitutes the largest church of Late Antique city and the most eminent example of monuments of paleochristian cult. The basilica constitutes a substantial three-aisled building, with apse, transept, narthex, exonarthex and the porticoes, with the upper galleries, which raised its height significantly. The Episcopal Palace, partially uncovered, is situated to the southeast of the Cathedral. The surrounding buildings are all part of the Episcopal complex which includes storerooms with substantial storage jars, and a smallish wine-making and oil-making workshop to the rear, which served to the needs of the complex. The monument preserves rich patterns of decorative sculpture, cut mainly from fine local limestone and occasionally from imported marbles. One of the most outstanding values of the church is the large surfaces of mosaic pavements, featuring a variety of figurative and geometric designs. The figurative panels represent marine scenes, based on the life of the fishermen of Nazareth Simon and Andrew, and pastoral scenes with shepherds. The decoration of the interior was completed with mural paintings which covered the walls surface of the basilica, from which only the lower panel featuring geometric motifs are preserved. Construction of the cathedral took place over an extended period, beginning during the late fourth century or in the early years of the fifth century AD and continuing with a second phase of work around 470 AD, and the final phase during the reign of Justinian, before 547 AD, when the monument was ruined from the Slavic onslaughts.

Jan 2022: i.imgur.com/eSP4KWo.jpeg