Daphni Monastery near Athens is famous for its eleventh-century mosaics and cross-in-square katholikon. The monastery lies about eleven kilometres northwest of central Athens, near the ancient Sacred Way leading toward Eleusis.
Its main church was built in the late eleventh century, probably over the remains of an earlier Christian site. The interior is renowned for its gold-ground mosaics, especially the monumental image of Christ Pantocrator in the dome and the scenes arranged around it.
Daphni’s mosaics are often compared with those at Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni. These monuments are grouped together on the UNESCO World Heritage List because they represent a particularly accomplished phase of Byzantine religious architecture and artistic production.
A powerful earthquake in 1999 caused serious damage, and extensive conservation followed. The monastery was also damaged during earlier historical periods, so the building seen today reflects both medieval construction and modern restoration. Its name is linked to the laurel-filled landscape and the ancient sanctuary traditions of the area.