Greek Ministry plans restoration of 17th century paintings at dafni monastery

The Greek Ministry of Culture is launching a project to restore and protect rare 17th century frescoes at the Katholikos of Dafni Monastery in Attica.

The project involves the Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Western Attica. These actions are part of a broader conservation effort for the monastery, which is a major Byzantine monument. Dafni Monastery sits on the outskirts of Mount Aigaleo along the Sacred Way.

The Katholikos building dates back to the 11th century and features an octagonal architectural style. It is part of a serial entry in the UNESCO World Heritage List along with the Monastery of Hosios Loukas and the Nea Moni of Chios. The frescoes inside the Katholikos were likely created in the 17th century to replace older marble decorations. The restoration study identifies several issues caused by time, humidity, and seismic stress.

These problems include cracks, peeling paint layers, and dust accumulation. The planned work will involve stabilizing the crumbling substrate, removing modern additions, and cleaning the surfaces of salts and grease. The ministry says it will use scientific and technological knowledge to ensure the authenticity of the monument while making it more accessible to the public.