The Byzantine Style Noted for its rich use of ornamental domes, colorful mosaics, and lavish decorations, the Byzantine style of architecture has found new life on American soil due to its structural integrity and cultural associations. Perhaps no other single style of architecture combines ancient ecclesiastical forms with sacred artworks as lavishly as the Byzantine. The style developed during the Byzantine Empire (500 AD) and is characterized by complex vaulting with domes, large open spaces, and lavish decoration with mosaics, gilding, and paintings of Christian subjects. Today, the style is most strongly associated with Orthodox Christian Greek immigrants, who beginning in the early 20th century built churches that expressed their cultural traditions. The Byzantine style is characterized by the dome and the cruciform shape, round arches, and circular windows. Buildings are formal and symmetrical, with compact, functional plans. Exterior walls are smooth and plain. Popular materials include buff brick in large, flat sizes; light-colored stone, often in bands; and stucco or plastered and painted concrete. Buildings Featuring The Byzantine Style:
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