Loo Temple: a piece of Byzantium in Sochi

In the Lazarevsky district of Sochi, a few kilometers from the village of Loo, on top of the mountain are the ruins of the Byzantine church, which provoke heated discussions among historians. Archaeological monument, fenced with metal structures to prevent further destruction, is taken under the protection of the state.

Ruins of an ancient building

The Lohsky temple, which did not reach the descendants in its original form, is a ruin devoid of the vault. The oldest building, erected between the X and XII centuries, was first discovered in the XIX century, and in 1979 the book of the famous scientist Yu. Voronov mentioned the cult structure. Ten years later, an archaeological group arrived in Loo (Sochi), carrying out excavations at the site of a historical monument, which is evidence of the existence of Byzantine culture on the territory of the village.

The architects who designed the temple and built it at a higher altitude than the conditions allow it did not take into account one thing - the seismic unreliability of this area. In the XIII century the structure was leveled with the earth, and only after a hundred years it was again restored. According to archaeologists, a new monument appeared on the site of the old religious monument, and it is its ruins that we see today.

Temple architecture

The three-nautical temple of Lohos, about 21 meters long, with symmetrically arranged pillars in the center (now only grounds are left of them), was illuminated by narrow windows. In the small openings were inserted glasses of a greenish-blue hue, through which passed the rare solar rays. At that time, the interior space of the cult structure was filled with mysterious light. Scientists who studied the chemical composition of glasses and established their Byzantine origin, found that they appeared not earlier than the tenth century.

Thick walls of the architectural work that characterizes the culture of the population, professing Christianity in the Middle Ages, are composed of sand and limestone slabs, as well as slate. Facing blocks covered the entire outer surface, giving the temple a majestic appearance: from afar it looked like an elegant white-stone church with a purple roof. Scientists found on the excavations several fragments of walls with carved ornaments, and also found a plate on which the letters of the Greek alphabet were stamped.

Relating to the Alano-Abkhazian group of religious structures, which represented a separate direction in Byzantine architecture, the Loo Temple (Sochi) of rectangular shape had three entrances and the same number of apses (altar ledges).

It is curious that archaeologists have discovered burials dating from the 13th-14th centuries on the temple territory and beyond.

Cult structure, which turned into a fortress

The Loo Temple, destroyed by an earthquake, after several centuries was converted into a defensive fortress, which is confirmed by archaeological finds. And without that the narrow windows, laid with masonry, turned into loopholes, the southern and western entrances were closed, and only the third remained - from the north. And behind the temple appeared a watchtower, from which now remains only the foundation.

If you look at the map of the Black Sea region of the XIX century, you can see that the temple in Loo (Sochi) is designated as the ruins of the old fortress.

A place with a special atmosphere

Now the only surviving wall is supported by metal supports, and the passage is packed with boards, which spoils the visual perception of the historical monument. As tourists admit, the Loo Temple is a crowded place with strong energy. The complete silence and the soothing sound of the sea allow us to imbue ourselves with a special atmosphere, and each visitor is transferred to the distant past without the help of a time machine. There is a legend according to which every tourist who visited the landmark should touch the wall, and then God will fulfill his most cherished desire.

Interesting Facts

The Orthodox Church believes that the dedication to St. George the Victorious is an ancient cult temple. Loo every year on May 6, the day of commemoration of the Great Martyr, receives a huge number of pilgrims hurrying to the ruins.

In holy places, ancient legends are intertwined with the reality so closely that scholars continue to argue that they are true, and that it is fiction. According to one legend, the apostle Simon the Canaanite was executed by the Romans and buried near the Black Sea coast. Five hundred years later, Christians began to seek the grave of the preacher and found it here. At this place, called Nikopsya, the faithful built a temple. Some historians believe that the saint was buried in New Athos, and according to other researchers, the current ruins - this is the most religious structure that appeared on the grave of Kananit, which has not yet been discovered.