It is a lovely little church built in a cross-in-square way. Its dome is supported by four Roman columns. You can also admire three apses on the east side and a narthex on the west. A chapel dedicated to Aghia Varvara, built slightly later, was added to the north side of the church, as well as the exonarthex, in front of the two churches.
The church’s walls were built in the typical cloisonné masonry. The decorations and ornaments are in brick. Most of the icons inside the church are the work of the celebrated Modern Greek artist Fotis Kontoglou.
This church is located on the famous shopping street of Ermou, well-known for the great amount of shops boarding it. While you stroll around and look at the shop, the church of Kapnikarea will be a lovely surprise.
 The church of Agii Theodori |
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This tiny church, situated west of Plateia Klafthmonos, was probably erected over the ruins of an earlier structure and is possibly the oldest Byzantine church in Athens.
Simply, in a transitional cross-in-square shape, the church has inscribed plaques built into the west wall, over the entrance in the western wall, recording that it was renovated in 1065 A.D. by Nicolaos Calomalos.
During the opening phase of the Greek Revolution in 1821 the church was badly damaged but was restored in 1840. The ambo and. the sanctuary of the church has also been restored. It is a lovely building with walls built in the typical cloisonné masonry and decorated with brick, Cufic ornaments and terracotta frieze of animals and plants. The paintings in the interior wall are dated to the 19th century. |
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and is dated to the 12th century. This is another example of a church built on the ruins of an ancient temple.
This temple was dedicated to the goddess Eileithyia. It was built with pieces of pentelic marble, and is a cross-in-square type of church. The dome is the only part built in the typical cloisonné masonry.
| The church of the Holy Apostles |
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This little jewel was built in the 11th century in the name of St Paul who used to teach and preach in the Agora. It is standing near the southern entrance of the Ancient Agora.
It got restored to its original form in 1954-57, while its 19th century additions were removed. Fine Byzantine frescoes can be admired inside this wonderful little church.
| Church of Panageia Hrysospiliotissa |
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The tiny church of Panagia Hrysospiliotisa (Chapel of the Madonna of the Cavern) is hidden in the small cave behind the Theatre of Dionysos.
In 320 BC, Thrasyllos built a temple dedicated to Dionysos I the same grotto, which explains the two Ionic columns above the church. The chapel is going to charm you with its amazing walls covered by old pictures and icons.
You can reach it by following a rock path starting from the Theatre of Dionysos.
| Moni Dafniou |
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The most important 11th century monument in Attica lays 30m away from the town centre by bus. It is on the list of the UNESCO’s World Heritage.
The church is built on the ruins of a temple sacred to Apollo, and who was named after the laurels brought to the god. (Dafni=Laurel).
The Goths destroyed the temple in 395 AD, while only an Ionic column has survived in the narthex of the church. |
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| Moni Kaissarianis |
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This really interesting site is situated near the top of Mt. Hymettus, 5 km east of Athens.
You can reach it with the help of a bus from plateia Kanigos, at the north end of Akadimias avenue.
The terminus, the cemetery of Kaissariani, is where you get off, and then and then a 30 minutes walk will lead you to the monastery.
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This place is a real pleasure for the senses, as it is a quiet refuge, surrounded by pine trees, cypress trees and wild flowers.
This church was built in the 11th century in the Greek-cross plan and dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin.
It was originally a temple to the glory of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and nature.
The actual monastery was built with the remains of the second temple erected there during the Roman period (100-300 AD), which explains the four columns supporting its dome.
The 17th century frescoes, a work of Ioannis Ipatos, can be admired in the narthex of the church.
The other frescoes in the monastery are the artwork of a monk from Mt. Athos, who painted them in the 16th century.
On the hill above the church one can discover a lovely spring, the source of the river Ilissos.
The waters of that river were once sacred to Aphrodite, and therefore believed to cure infertility. |
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