Τρίτη, Ιανουαρίου 15, 2013

The church of Kapnikarea in Athens Greece

The church of Kapnikarea is located on Ermou Street

Kapnikarea was built in the 11th Century on the ruins of another church.

Kapnikarea (Greek: Καπνικαρέα) is a Greek Orthodox church and one of the oldest churches in Athens.

Book a hotel room in Athens Greece www.athenshoteleconomy.com

check on line availability - prices and make a reservation https://economyhotel.cosmores.com

History

It is estimated that the church was built some time in the 11th century, perhaps around 1050. As it was common with the early Christian churches, this was built over an ancient Greek pagan temple dedicated to the worship of a goddess, possibly Athena or Demeter.

Architecture

It appears that the Kapnikarea church may have originally been the katholikon ("church") of a monastery. Presently, the building is formed by a complex of three different units attached together; these units were built in succession: a) the largest south church dedicated to the Presentation of Mary to the Temple, b) the chapel of St Barbara on the northern side; and c) the exonarthex with the propylon, which are today on the western end.
The larger of the two churches, the south one, is a domed complex, cross-in-square, has been dated (on the basis of morphological criteria) to just after the middle of the 11th century

This may explain the fact that the dome is held by four Roman pillars. In 1834, it was planned to be demolished, but with the timely intervention of King Ludwig I of Bavaria the demolition was avoided.

The church was renovated during the decade of 1950 by the University of Athens.

During the renovation, the artist Fotis Kontoglou (1895-1965) created the majority of the icons that decorate the church, among them is one of the Virgin with the Child.