Church of Osios David

The Church of Osios David is a small early Christian church in the Ano Poli quarter of Thessaloniki, Greece, built in the late 5th century and also known as the Monastery of Latomou. Part of the city's UNESCO-listed Early Christian and Byzantine monuments, it is best known for the apse mosaic of Christ in Majesty, a rare early Christian composition that shows a youthful, beardless Christ seated on a rainbow in a vision of Ezekiel, with the four evangelist symbols and the prophets Ezekiel and Habakkuk. The mosaic is thought to date from the late 5th century and is regarded as among the earliest surviving apse mosaics in Greece. The church itself is modest in size, with a cross-shaped plan, brick walls and later Byzantine additions, and its quiet courtyard sits between narrow lanes. Visitors usually spend 20 to 30 minutes, enough to study the mosaic and the 12th-century wall paintings. Opening hours are not fixed and the church is not always open, so visitors are advised to check on site or with the local tourist office. The approach is part of the pleasure: the church is reached on foot through the winding streets of Ano Poli, combined easily with the Byzantine walls, the Trigonion Tower and the viewpoints near the upper town. The streets are steep and cobbled in places, so comfortable shoes are important. The church is typically very quiet with few other visitors, and the soft light of morning shows the mosaic best. Photography rules may be restricted for the mosaic, so signage and staff directions should be followed. Modest dress is expected.