Images of the Virgin Mary in the Apse Decoration of the Sixth-Century Cypriot Churches

This paper aims to explore apsidal decoration of two Cypriot churches from the sixth-century, namely the church of Panagia Kanakaria (Παναγία Κανακαριά) at Lythrankomi and Panagia Angeloktisti (Παναγία Αγγελόκτιστη) at Kiti. Since their apse mosaics, as a central figure, display Virgin Mary, we want to explore this new prominent position of Mother of God in the context of the Third Ecumenical Council. In doing so, we will try to show that decisions of the Council had an influence not only on the religious life of the Byzantine empire, but also on its art.