The Church of Boeotia showed a dynamic evolution from the beginnings of the 1st century A.D. and during the entire Byzantine period. Many bishops’ names survive already from the early Christian period, whereas tens of churches were founded. Local church was powerful enough during the middle Byzantine period and remained flourishing until the Latin conquest in 1204, when it was put under the jurisdiction of a Latin archbishop.

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Information about religion in Boeotia comes amply from literary sources, such as Pindar, Hesiod, Plutarch and Pausanias, who has described many Boeotian sanctuaries. Archaeological evidence is, however, less explicit. Two major oracles, that of Amphiaraos at Oropos and that of Trophonios at Levadeia had a widespread fame. Other important cults were those of Athena Itonia, of Apollo Ptoios, of Poseidon at Onchestos, of the Muses at the homonymous valley, of Charites at Orchomenos etc. For...

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In the beginnings of the 9th century Boeotia showed signs of economic and cultural revival, while its political significance was upgraded within the Theme of Hellas. In the 10th century, prominent figures of Boeotian monasticism, Hosios Loukas Steiriotes and Hosios Nikon Metanoeite, marked the pass from anchorite ascetic life to coenobitic one. The 11th and 12th centuries were a high point for Boeotian monasticism due to the dominant political and economic position of the region, as well as due...

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The entry will examine the last manifestations of traditional cults in Boeotia (polytheism, paganism) and the implantation of Christianity. On this process, our sources are primarily archaeological, and epigraphical, since literary sources on religious life in the late antique period in Boeotia are quite rare.

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