Axos, church of Agios Ioannis (Saint Jonh)

The funerary church of Saint John the Baptist is located near the acropolis of ancient Axos. It is a single-nave, barrel-vaulted church dating from the 14th century. It was constructed on the remains of a basilica from the Early Byzantine period, incorporating parts of the apse and mosaic floor. The church is adorned with murals, including a fascinating representation of Hell with the Damned on the west wall. It depicts the torments that sinners had to endure after their death. Among the sinners are listed "the blasphemer", "the woman who loathes infants", "the fornicator", "the prostitute", "the thief", and "those who sleep on Holy Sunday".

Bibliography

Τ. Αλμπάνη, «Οι τοιχογραφίες του Αγίου Ιωάννη στην Αξό Μυλοποτάμου», Ειρ. Γαβριλάκη, Γ. Τζιφόπουλος (επιμ.), Ο Μυλοπόταμος από την αρχαιότητα ως σήμερα, Πρακτικά Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου (Πάνορμο 24-30.10.2003) τ. 5, Ρέθυμνο 2006, σ. 159-196.

I. Spatharakis, Byzantine wall paintings of Crete, vol II. Mylopotamos Province, Leiden 2015, σ. 97-119.