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Home , Agia Varvara (island), Agioi Apostoloi, Agioi Theodoroi, Agios Efstratios, Agios Georgios (island), Agios Nikolaos (Chania)

Religious www.visitgreece.gr Religious tourism_2 of The otherface Make themostof it! overthecenturies; itisatripthroughtime. to experiencethisfaceofGreeceshowsthedevoutness the ment canbeapathtowards spiritual exaltation.Thejourney Every mountain and island, every rock and cobblestone pave- One feelsthatthesplendidGreeknatureenjoys God’s blessing. nos island,ofPanagiaSoumela, Ekatontapyliani etc. Virgin MarysuchastheChurchesofPanagia (VirginMary)onT mountain in Paul theApostletravelledto;monasticcentreonPapikion island oftheApocalypseJohnApostle;areaswhere Mountain”); theimpressivemonasteriesofeteora;, the AutonomousMonasticStateofountAthos(aka“theHoly Among the most important religious sites in the country are and theabidingconnectionbetweenArtReligion. as otherreligioussites,andthisshowstheirinterestintraditions Byzantine worksofart,themosaics,muralsandiconsaswell Thousands oftouristseachyearvisittheByzantineandpost- churches. or themainland,inplacesofworshipsuchasmonasteriesand visitors can’thelpadmiringthewonderfulspotsonislands Whether onatripforreligiouspurposesorjustsight-seeing, this bringsoutthespecialhistoricalandculturalvalueofGreece. structions andmonumentsofworshipvariousreligions, Orthodox practice has been associated in manyareas with con- grounds andtraditions. a specialkindoftouristactivitybasedondifferentculturalback- cultural aspectofreligioniscloselyrelatedtotourism,makingit journeyed alloverGreecetovisitreligioussites.Moreover,the grimage hasbeenastrongincentivefortravellingandpeople activities, well-rootedinpastages.Sincedeepantiquity,pil- In Greece,religioustourismstemsfrompilgrimage-related dawn ofhumaistory. purposes hasbeentheprincipal reasonfotravel,sinch Religious tourismisnotanovelty.Travellingfoeligious (Rodopi); the sacred places dedicated to the i- grimage sitesandthecountlessotherawe-inspiringreligiousplaces. grimage monasteries andtheirdependencies,theconvents,holypil- thousands ofByzantinechurches,theinnumerablechapels, Foreign andGreekvisitorsalikestandinastonishmentbeforethe thodox principles. faith anddevotiontoGodfortwothousandyears,keepingOr- Greeks havealwaysexpressedtheirreligiousness,deep Religious tourism_4 Monastic St in thisuniqueplacecalledAutonomous The feelingtha a te oftheHoly Mount t manmeetsGodisinheir ain. fascinated byit! visitor canexplorethebeautiful,wildnature!Heiscertaintobe this specialrhythmoflife!Throughthemountainpaths, manner ofaddressingpeople;even…animalsappeartofollow of theByzantinerite),typelanguageused,food, (Old Style) calendar, thetime allocation (following observance natural surroundings,thedailypractices,useofJulian thodoxy”; theprevailingphilosophyandwayofthinking, The rhythmoflifeisdifferenthere,inthisso-called“arkOr- reverence! hymns reachtheskiesandcreateanatmosphereofawe tains foroverathousandyears…Visitorsfeelupliftedasdaily and campanileshavebeenstandingontheedgeofmoun- in cavesorperchedonthetipsofrocks,fortresses,cupolas The imposinghistoricmonasteries,theimpressivecellsbuilt Visitors getaglimpseofdifferentwaylifeonMountAthos. Mount Athos(elevation:2,033m.)isindeedawe-inspiring. Rising fromthewatersofNorthAegeanSea,towering monasteries, theretreatsandhermitagesonmountain. For centuries,monkshaveledamonasticlifeinthetwentybig heaven meets its counterpart in the wonderful pristine nature. peninsula,theso-called“GardenofVirginMary”, Once here,timeisnolongerimportant.IntheEastlegof Religious tourism_6 the landscape. the massivrocksfMeteoraommnd a regionightinearofGreekminlnd, In Trikaldistrict,innothwestThessly,

the firsthalfof20 and netstosecureapassfromonemonasterytheother.In problems tomonastics.Theybuiltladdersandtheyusedropes The 400-metre height of the Holy Rocks has often created big visited thisholysite. of monkshavecometostayandthousandsbelievers founded theGreatMeteorononastery.Eversince,hundreds way togetclosertheCreator.Inearly11 and cavitiesareasourceofinspirationforvisitorswhoseek The absolutesilence,theoverwhelmingrocks,crypts,caves cetic community,oneofthebiggestinOrthodoxhistory. millions years.Thisplacesawthedevelopmentofamajoras- of mud, granite and firestone and their existence goes back 60 pilgrims seekingsolitude.TheMeteorarockformationsconsist cent beauty.Thesiteistheperfectplaceforasceticsaswell For centuries,scientistshavebeencaptivatedbytheirmagnifi- themselves toHim.Inthe14 place wheretheycouldpray,communicatewithGodanddevote hermits cametothecavesofMeteora,insearchaspecial in 1988. Meteora was includedin asteries. and pilgrims have used them ever sinceto reach the 24 mon- th century 200stepswerecutintotherocks UNESCO’s List of WorldHeritage th century, Athanasios theMeteorite th century,thefirst Sites Religious tourism_8 the Apostle Paul import grea Apostle P test figuresinChristianhistoyswellve ant teacherofChristinbeliesndtheology. aul, .k..theApostleofNa tions, isoneofthe cially duringthe HellenisticT evidence ofthe town’shighculturallevelin Antiquity,espe- larly inPaliapolis–theancienttownof –areall as theancientcolumnsscattered allovertheisland,particu- Samothrace, housedattheLouvre Museum inParis,aswell the islandflourishedinantiquity. ThestatueofNike(Victory) there andpricelessarchaeological findsindicatingclearlythat Sea, steepedinhistory:thereare manyByzantineChurches He visited and connectedallthebigcitiesofMacedonia. natia linkedDyrrhachiumontheAdriaticSeawithByzantium constructed bytheRomanProconsulGnaeusEgnatius.Via g- Paul beganhisjourneyin49AD,takingViaEgnatiaalargeroad the Romanssummarisehisteachings. inthians, thePhilippians,Thessalonians,Ephesiansand He preachedinsixteenGreekregions.HisEpistlestotheCor - oned andtortured,yethedidnotabandonhismission. encountered hugedifficultiesduringhistravels:hegotimpris- message of theCrucifixionand Resurrection of Christ.He Apostle whotravelledaroundtheworldinordertodeliver Saul, theformerprosecutoroffirstChristians,became IN THESTEPSOFSAINTPAUL Samothrace, a lovely island in the northeast Aegean imes. Thosewhowished tobeini- spring wereconsidered tobesacred(agiasma) . of PaultheApostle andthewaters thatflowedfromanearby side oftheancientT by colonistsfromChalkidatown, Evvoiaisland.Nearthenorth wasbuiltonthesouthshore of LakeVolviin432BC times ofPhilipII,KingMacedonia. in 437BCbyGeneralAgnon,sonof Nikias, andprosperedinthe Another importantMacedoniantown,,wasfounded way toThessaloniki. Paul the Apostlealso visited Amphipolis and Apollonia, on his Christian Basilicas(5 ancient the town’sculturalmagnitudeinAntiquity.T the ruins of EarlyChristianChurchesareaclearindication Philippoi: cated inKavaladistrictNorthernGreece. From Samothraceisland,PaultheApostlewenttoNeapolislo- of Samothrace. tiated in the Agora (marketplace)remainsaswellruinsofEarly The vast and very important archaeological site and Cabeiri Mysteries were accepted at the sanctuary emple ofgodApolloliestheVema (Podium) th century). oday, apartofthe Religious tourism_10 built inthe4 of the Chalkeon (1028).Theancientagora, solutely worthvisitingandsoistheChurchof was imprisonedandinhumedin303;itisab- thermae wherethegreatChristianmartyr of thecityanditwasbuiltonruins is dedicatedtothepatronSaintandprotector the 7 tance suchasAcheiropoietos(5 Byzantine Churchesofmajorhistoricalimpor- tumn of49AD.MagnificentEarlyChristianand Paul theApostlearrivedatcityinau- , sisterofAlexandertheGreat. sander in315BCandnamedafterhiswife, Thessaloniki: ThecitywasfoundedbyCas- edonia, he walkedacrosstheancientagora dents, SilasandT “to theunknownGod”.Ashewaitedforhisstu- where hefoundanaltarbearingtheinscription greater Athensarea,andhewalkedtothecity rived by boat at Faliro, the then harbour of the Arts andtheproudownerofParthenon.Hear- ens, thecradleofPhilosophy, : In51AD,PaultheApostlevisitedAth- visitors. Theodosius theGreat,neverfailtoimpress Christian ChurchduringthereignofEmperor built on theruinsofan God (Agia Sofia) arepresumedtohavebeen silica. Galerius in T riumphal Arch, the remains of the Palace th The century ofAgios(Saint)Dimitrios th century ADandconvertedintoa Navarinou Church oftheHolyWisdom imothy, toarrivefromMac- Square, the Rotunda, Early ChristianBa- Intellection and th century) and attraction. Duringhis3 and ancient monuments,theByzantineChurches wherehestayedfor18months.T Corinth: Circa50AD,theApostlereached Athens, etc. dedicated toApostlePaul(1887)intheheartof be traced back to the Greek Island,witharecordedhistorythatcan isawell-knownandverybeautiful delivered hissermonsundershade. huge centuries-oldplanetree.ApostlePaul cine. Inthetown’sLotziaSquare,thereisa of HippocratesknownastheFather ofMedi- andRhodes:KosIslandisthenativeplace North AegeanSeaislands. ited Lesvos,ChiosandSamos,threebeautiful is amongthebesttouristdestinations. taller (oftheOrderofSaintJohnJerusalem) worth visiting;thecastleofKnightsHospi- is amultitudeofarchaeologicalfindsthatare karea (11 Byzantine ChurchesinAthens,suchasKapni- Athenians. TherearemanyEarlyChristianand where he preached the was Areopagus(meaning“theRockofAres”) discussed withphilosophers.Hisdestination and theAcropolis,visitedsynagogue c.) withmuralsdatingtothe16 Monasteries are the city’s main tourist th c.), theMonasteryofKaisariani(11 Neolithic Period. rd Unknown journey,Paulvis- th c., aChurch God to the There th Religious tourism_12 monasteries The 11 family. Thechurch’sfrescoesdatetothe16 piotissa wasfoundedinthe13 Monastery ofPanagiaOlympiotissa,:Olym- tianity. bolises theunionbetweenancientGreekspiritandChris- amazing depictionofthegreatGreekphilosophersandsym- in thenorthernouternarthexisindeednottobemissed!Itan fine examplesofpost-Byzantinepainting.Thefamousfresco in thelate13 ated on theislet of Lake Pamvotida in . penoi, : Monastery ofAgiosNikolaos(SaintNicholas)Philanthro- to havebeencraftedbyLuketheEvangelist. (Black Sea).Found laterinAthens,thewood-carvediconissaid Mary whichwasbroughtfromaonasteryonelasountain monastery, knownforthewonder-workingiconofVirgin (Virgin Mary)SoumelaonountVermion.Pilgrimsvisitthe Greece fromtheBlackSeaareabuiltMonasteryofPanagia that endedinGreekdefeat1922,therefugeescameto Panagia Soumela,:AftertheGreco-T Byzantine times: the 10 significant religiousmonumentsinGreecethatdatebacktothe Osios (Venerable)LukeSteriotisinVoiotiaishometotwovery Monastery ofOsiosLoukas,CentralGreece:TheMonastery celebrated scholar. on theologyandliterature,offeredbyAnthimosOlympiotisa brary createdthroughthegenerousdonationof400volumes and theGermanOccupation.Themonasteryboastsalargeli- raids, destructionandpillagingespeciallyduringtheT donian IconPaintingSchool.Overtimetheplacehasknown period byManuelPanselinos,thegreatmasteroface- preserved tothepresentdaywerepaintedduringsame Dormition oftheMotherGod.Thefrescoesthathavebeen Andronicus IIPaleologus.Themonasteryisdedicatedtothe included inUNESCO’sWorldHeritageList. interest bestowedonthecomplex.TheMonasteryhasbeen elements and sculptures which bear testimony to the imperial masonry andthemagnificentaswellrefinedarchitectural tion comenaturallytovisitorswhenfacedwiththeimpressive th c. katholikon (mainchurch).Feelings ofaweandadmira- th c. bythePhilanthropenoi,anobleConstantinople This very important religious monument is situ- th c. church of the Virgin th c. bytheByzantineEmperor th c. andtheyare It was founded Mary and the urkish War urkish canonical vestmentsareondisplayinthevestry. siastical relicssuchassigils,gospelbooks,manuscriptsand Mary isinthemonastery’skatholikon(mainchurch).Eccle- Emperor AlexiusIComnenusin1088.TheiconoftheVirgin According to another version, the monastery was founded by raculously reachedAmorgosislandfromHozova,Palestine. ism), whentheiconofVirginMaryisbelievedtohavemi- c., i.e.duringtheByzantineperiodofIconomachy(orAnicon- T cal faceofarockformationanditisnowiderthan5metres. Hozoviotissa wasbuiltoneightsuccessivelevelstheverti- Panagia Hozoviotissa,:TheMonasteryof of Independence. with remarkableitemsdatingtotheperiodofGreekWar is hometoothersaints’relicsanditalsohousesamuseum of tionary activitiesthatendedinvictoryovertheadvancingarmy War ofIndependence,MegaSpilaiobecamethehubrevolu- right arm), painted by . of PanagiaDexiokratousa(OurLadyholdingHolyInfantinher saloniki, after they haddiscovered the wonder-working founded bySymeonandTheodorus,twomonksfromhes- metres aboveVouraikoscanyon.Accordingtotradition,itwas cliff, thehistoricMegaSpilaioonasteryofKalavrytarises120 ,: Perched on a rugged, forbidding radition hasitthattheMonasterywasfoundedin8 Ibrahim Pasha in 1827. Apart from said icon, the monastery During the Greek th – 9 th th Religious tourism_14 in themid-11 most significant religiousmonumentinChios wasfounded Nea Moni(NewMonastery)of ChiosIsland,N.E.Aegean:The astery’s name. Archangeliotissa (OurLadyofArchangels)–hencethe mon- Mother ofGod(16 depictingJesusChristHigh PriestandtheVirginMary, include the15 nal condition. tobacco merchants helped restore the monastery to its origi- butthecontributionsofferedbyXanthi’swell-to-do Christians. Itwasheavilydamagedbythe1829catastrophic Occupation, itusedtobeaculturalhubandrefugeforlocal the MotherofGod(KoimisitisTheotokou).DuringT was foundedinthe14 astery liesinaforestedareaofRodopi,nearXanthitown. It Monastery ofPanagiaArchangeliotissa,Thrace:Themon - The religious treasures housed at the monastery th th c. iconofPanagiaOdigitria,thedespotic(Lord’s) century byByzantine emperorConstantineI X th – 17 th c. andisdedicatedtotheDormitionof th c.), andtheiconofVirgin Mary urkish tional activities throughoutthe19 the causewithmoneyandsupplies andengagedineduca- ing theGreekWarofIndependence,monastery supported extensive damageitsustained inthemid-18 Frankish Occupation(1309–1522)andrebuilt in1783afterthe Island. tisamajorGreekpilgrimagesite,founded during the trees,firsandcypresses,bytheGulfofPanormos, The MonasteryofArchangelichaelliesnexttoagrove Monastery ofArchangelMichaelPanormitis,: List ofWorldHeritageSites. the monastery.NeaMoniofChiosisinscribedinUNESCO ’s materials thatareproofoftheimperialinterestbestowedon trompe l’oeilmarblefinishes,mosaicsandtheuseofprecious mon ontheislands.Theelaborateinteriordecorationsinclude men oftheoctagonarchitecturaltypechurchbuilding,com - Monomachos. Theonastery’skatholikonisamasterlyspeci - 1783 katholikon waslavishlydecoratedwith frescoes painted th century. Themonastery’s th century. Dur-

founded inthe14 of (akrotiri:cape).Itisaplacewithveryrichhistory, took thisnameonaccountofitslocationtheeasternshores Monastery ofPanagiaAkrotirianiToplou: PanagiaAkrotiriani tery tothisend. isveneratedbymanyapilgrimwhovisitthemonas- ostasis, thewonder-workingsilver-platediconofArchangel by the copper engravings. canonical vestments,churchvessels,raremanuscriptsand also noteworthyasithousesanextensivecollectionoficons, nounced renaissanceinfluences.Themonastery’smuseumis its gabledfaçadeandthesplendidlyornatebelfrybearpro- elements. Both the aisleless, barrel-vaulted katholikon with bines diverseByzantineandwesternmonasticarchitectural the Cretanrenaissance.The monastery becameamajorculturalcentreandcontributedto as it has been damaged. During the Venetian Karakostis brothers. th c. andithasbeenrestoredasmanytimes Mounted on a wood-carved icon- oplou monasticcomplexcom- Occupation, the the 11 a majorGreekreligiousmonument,datingbacktotheendof tion oftheMotherGod(KoimisitisTheotokou)inDaphni,is UNESCO’s ListofWorldHeritageSites. classical idealism.TheMonasteryofDaphniisincludedin Art (MiddleByzantinePeriod)thatwasgreatlyinfluencedby which arerepresentativeoftheclassicalperiodinByzantine ishly decorated.Visitorsfaceawealthofsplendidmosaics in-square domedoctagon-shapedkatholikonhasbeenlav- Monastery ofDaphni,Athens: ists aroundtheworld. church thathasbeenthesourceofinspirationformanyart- (Mouse island).Thisisasmall,greenislandwith13 Vlachernon, thereareboattripstothefamousPontikonisi nects ittotheoppositeland.FromMonasteryofPanagia astery isbuiltonanisletandacenturies-oldpromontorycon- one ofthemostimpressivesitesonCorfuIsland.Themon- Monastery ofPanagiaVlachernon,IonianIslands:Thisis th century: themonastery’sexquisitelydesignedcross- The Monastery of the Dormi- th c. c. Religious tourism_16 Patmos THE ISLANDOFAPCALY PSE tians today.The The IslandoftheApocalypseisaplacereferenceforallChris- cave thathasbeenvisitedbymanyapilgrimoverthecenturies. the lifeandteachingsofJesus,hewroteApocalypseina The Apostlehadtheprivilegeofafirst-handknowledgeabout about theLastJudgement. tion with place becameforhimasourceofinspirationandcommunica- lived inEphesusatthattime,gotexiledtoPatmosIsland.The Christianity. JohntheApostle,belovedstudentofChrist,who Since 95AD,Patmoshasbeenalandmarkinthehistoryof Small P by Thucydideswhodescrieditasrkyislnd. The firsthistocalenctoP Island Groupitshistoryspans 2500years. rthodox world. stitute amajorcentreofmonasticlifefortheOrthodoxworld. of theApocalypsewhereApostlereceivedrevelationcon- God, as he would write down the word of the Creator a Monastery of StJohn the tmos IslandbelongstotheDodecanese vangelist and the Cave Evangelist and the Cave • • • The followingitemsarekeptinthelibraryofMonastery: the sacrificeofJohnApostle. lievers themessageofRevelationanddedicationtoGod The muralsontheMonasterywallsandCaveconveytobe- a tmos wasmade ments sentbytheEcumenicalPatriarchstoMonastery. The golden seals of the Byzantine emperors and the docu- John theTheologian(theEvangelist). Church such as ters, benedictionalsandmanuscriptsoftheFathers ofthe There areover1000theologicalmanuscripts:gospels,psal- Gospel ofStMark. of fine parchment,in silver writing, withextracts from the The 6 th century “PurpleCodex”:Itcomprises33purpleleaves St Vasileios, St John Chrysostom and St Religious tourism_18 churches The basilica andamajor5 Dimitrios underwenttortureandtribulation.Itisathree-aisled cated tothecity’spatronsaintandwasbuiltonsitewhereSt Agios Dimitrios,Thessaloniki:Thismagnificentchurchisdedi- world areseenonwallfrescoes,influencedbyasceticideals. strong Byzantineinfluences.Dramaticdepictionsofthecelestial church isatwo-pilaster,cross-in-squaredomededificewith (saakios)Comnenus,thirdsonofAlexiusComnenus.The founded in1151-2bySebastocrator(secondonlytotheemperor) in thesmalltownofFeres, .Themonasticcomplexwas fortified wallsthatoncesurroundedthemonasteryaresituated mosoteira (VirginMary,SaviouroftheWorld)andparts Panagia Kosmosoteira,Thrace:TheChurchofKos- incomparable religiousbuildingswereerectedaroundthepal- cultural renaissanceintheLate-Byzantineperiod.Numerous, (Evangelismos tisTheotokou).Itwasbuiltinthelate13 church dedicatedtotheAnnunciationBlessedVirginMary Panagia Parigoritissa,Epirus:ItisanimposingByzantine church servicesresumedin1948. fire thatdestroyedalargepartofthecity.Following restoration, wreathed pilasters.Thechurchwasravagedbythe1917great as ,wallfrescoes,trompel’oeilmarblefinishesand decorations includeByzantinesculpturesandpaintings,such is dedicatedtotheAnnunciation.Ita19 Evangelistria, CentralGreece:Amfissa’smetropolitanchurch ous methodusedinitsstructuralsupport. picting ChristPantokrator(Almighty),isknownfortheingenu- The basilica’scentraldome,bearingamagnificentmosaicde- cultural prosperitythattheDespotateofEpirusknewattime. tectural style,withlavishdecorations,denotingthefinancialand built intheuniqueByzantineoctagonalcross-in-squarearchi- Nicephorus IComnenusDucas,rulerofEpirus.Thechurchwas tate of Moreas since the 14 peii”, which has defied theravagesof time. , acityofcastles,alsoknownasthe“ByzantinePom - Mystras, Peloponnese:OntheslopesofMtT paloukas, awell-knownGreekpainter. and thesplendidreligiouspaintingswerecraftedbySpyrosPa- and new blendin harmony. th c. monument.Itsimpressiveandrich th The architectural style isByzantine c., Mystras became the cradleof th c. buildingwhereold Seat of theDespo- aygetus lies th c. by nios andSaintAnna,respectively. southern onesthatwerebuiltlaterarededicatedtoSaintAnto- and oldestaisleisdedicatedtotheVirginMary;northern tural and religious particularity that is worthnoting:thecentral domed three-aisledbarrel-vaultedchurch.Thereisanarchitec- Pantanassa (15 c.); PanagiaOdigitria(14 is oneof the major religious monuments in Crete. It is a 13 (Our Lady)islocatednearthevillageofKritsainasithiandit Church of Panagia Kera, Crete: ThechurchofPanagiaKera the elaboratelycarvediconostasisandawe-inspiringicons. andispreservedwithinthechurch.Itworthseeing incorrupt andmyrrh-gushingcamefromtheHolyMonasteryof jestically next toits 40-metre high belfry.The San MarcoCathedral,asthespotlesswhitestructurerisesma- island(Zante)bearsastrongresemblancetoVenice’s Agios Dionysios,IonianIslands:Thismagnificentbasilicain for thecity’svisitors. in withtheseafrontareaandhasbecomeapointofreference type with its austere stone surfaces. successfully combinesthetraditionalfeaturesofbasilica a well-knowngreekarchitect.Thechurch’sarchitecturalstyle scenic location.Itwasbuiltin1933,toplansbyAristotelisZachos, Constantine &Helen is situated by theseafront in city ina Agioi Constantine&Helen,Thessaly:TheChurchoftheSaints offerings presentedtotheVirginMarybyfaithful. location oftheicon.Insidechurchtherearehundredsvotive unearthed afterSaintPelagia,anun,hadvisionaboutthe tion totheBlessedVirginMary(EvangelismostisTheotokou)was Mother ofGod(KoimisistisTheotokou).heicontheAnnuncia- age that takes place on August 15, honouring the (Our LadyofSupremeGrace)isthecentreannualpilgrim- Constructed ofwhitemarblein1823,theChurchMegalochari on T Panagia ofTinos, :ThechurchofPanagiaEvangelistria World HeritageSitesin1989. asteries suchasPerivleptos(14thc.),Evangelistria(15 (Metropolitan church,13 ace ofthePaleologusfamily.T reece. inos IslandisthemostfrequentedpilgrimagesiteinGreece. th c.). MystraswasincludedonUNESCO’sListof th th c.); AgiaSofia(mid-14 -14 th o namebutafew:AgiosDimitrios c.); AgioiTheodoroichurch(13 The church has well fitted Saint’s reliquary, ormition of the Dormition of the th c.); andMon- th c.) and th c. th Religious tourism_20 while theinteriorisdecoratedwithNeo-Byzantinefrescoes architectural elementswerebroughttogetherinthischurch which wasdestroyedinanexplosion.GothicandRomanesque the existingplansofanearlierchurchdedicatedtoStIoannis, in Mandraki,Rhodes.Itwasbuilt1925bythetalians,basedon church oftheAnnunciationtoBlessedVirginMaryissituated Evangelismos tisTheotokou,Dodecanese:Themetropolitan in themiddle. form a wreath around the edifice and a fifth massive dome lies in-square style.Theroofisamasterpiece:foursmalldomes though itdoesbelongtothetraditionalByzantinedomed,cross- chitectural structureshowssignificantneo-gothicinfluences,al- Hansen, tworenownedarchitectsofthetime.Thechurch’sar- by ArgyrisAdalis,anativewhohadbeenstudentofZillerand religious tourismanditsexcellentarchitecture.Itwasdesigned with theislandofLesvosandattractsvisitorsintermsboth (1850), its prominent feature being a massive dome, isidentified Agios Therapon, N.E. Aegean: ThechurchofSaintherapon half ofthe20 painted byFotis Kontoglou,arenownediconographerofthefirst Byzantine traditionalfeaturesandEuropeanclassicalelements. successive changesinstyle,thechurchemergedasablendof the supervisionofarchitectsF.BoulangerandP.Kalkos.After the “Greco-Byzantine”style.Thechurchwascompletedunder eventually builtaccordingtodrawingsofD.Zezoswhofollowed en. Howevertheywerechangedlateron and thebasilicawas The originalarchitecturalplansweredrawnbyheofilusHans- as originallyitwasdesignatedtheseatofGreekstate. – 1862.Thisbecameoneofthefirstrecordededificescity, Virgin leos Street. of Athensislocatedinthecapital’shistoriccentre,onMitropo- Evangelismos tis Theotokou (Athens Cathedral): Masters oftheKnightsT interment ofthesarcophagicontainingremainsGrand is lavishlydecoratedwithsculpturesasitwasintendedforthe Mary and it isa domed three-aisled basilica built in 1842 It isdedicatedtotheAnnunciationBlessed th century.Thechurchalsofeaturesachapelthat emplar. The Cathedral Religious tourism_22 • • Island Cyclades • • • • • • Monasteries • • Early ChristianBasilicas • • • • • • • • Churches Crete • • Voiotia • • • Monasteries • • • • • Evrytania • Aitoloakarnania • • • • • • • • Monasteries • • • Fthiotida Churches An indica tic stateofMountAthos(AgioOros:GreekforHolyMountain)and metochia (monasticdependencies)andsketes,theuniquemonas- drals, thechapelsandshrinesofcountryside,monasteries, iconography, mosaics, murals and rare icons, the imposing cathe- The ByzantineandPost-Byzantine churcheswiththeirimportant the nationalheritageandattractconsiderablenumbersofvisitors. The monumentsoftheGreekOrthodoxfaithareanintegralpart • • (St. George) Diasoritis Agios ArtemiosatS tavros Agia T Preveli - Panagia KeraatAno-Irakleio Gouvernetou - Vrontisios -Irakleio Arkadi -Rethymno Basilica A-Chersonisos at Almyrida,Apokoronou-Chania Tzangaroli Monument-Rethymno Chersonisos Panagia GouverniotissaatPotamies - Panagia Kera-ritsaLasithi Panagia (VirginMary)atFodele -Irakleio Archangel Michael-Episkopi, Agios PanteleimonatBitzariano-Irakleio Chania (St.icholas)-K at Avdou-Irakleio Agios Konstantinos(St.Constantine) Panagia (VirginMary)Skripou Osios Loukas(Venerableuke) Kaisariani Daphni Asteriou Monastery Panagia Gorgoepikoos-Athens Kapnikarea -Athens Virgin Mary Athens Cathedral-AnnunciationtotheBlessed Agioi Theodoroi-Athens Proussos Monastery Panaxiotissa (Archangels) -NeraidaStylidas Katholikon (mainchurch)ofT Sotiros -KammenaVourla Katholikon (mainchurch)ofMetamorfosistou Katholikon (mainchurch)ofDadiouMonastery Katholikon (mainchurch)ofAgiosVlasios-Stylida Profitis Ilias(ProphetElijah)atZeli Panagia (VirginMary)atelinintza Damasta Agathonos Agioi TheodoroiatLivanates Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)atLarimna Agios Georgios(St.eorge)atfaka T Monastery -Irakleio Katholikon (MainChurch)ofVarsamoneron oplou - riada (HolyT rinity) Tzagkarolon-Chania tive listofreligiousmonuments axiarches yriakoselia, • • Monastery • • Arta Churches Epirus • • • Monasteries • • Early ChristianBasilicas • • Island • Island • Kos island • island • • • • • • • Island • • • • • • • Rhodes Island Churches Dodecanese • Monastery Amorgos Island • Early ChristianBasilica Island • • (SantoriniIsland) • Island • • Early ChristianBasilica at Glyki Kato Panagia Panagia (VirginMary)Parigoritissa Agios Vasileios(St.Basil) - SymiIsland T Agios Panteleimon-T - PatmosIsland Agios IoannisTheologos(St.Johntheheologian) Paraportiani -MykonosIsland Agios Stefanos(t.tephen)-KosIsland T Ancient Church,ChristofJerusalem Agios Loukas(St.uke)atApella Agios IoannisVaptistis(St.JohntheBaptist) Agios Georgios(St.eorge)touVounou -Kamara Agios IoannisTheologos-Lakki Panagia Gourlomata-Drymonas Agios Petros(St.Peter)-Drymonas Agios Georgios(St.eorge)-Drymonas Agios Georgios-Partheni Agia Matrona-Partheni Archangel Michael-Rhodes Katholikon (MainChurch)oftheonastery Panagia Kastrou-CityofRhodes Agios Georgios-CityofRhodes Agios Athanasios(St.Athanasius)-CityofRhodes Medieval City Agia T Agia Paraskevi-MedievalCity Agia Aikaterini(St.Catherine)-CityofRhodes Panagia (VirginMary)Hozoviotissa Ekatontapyliani orKatapoliani Emporeio Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)atMarmarites- Episkopi -MesaGonia Chrysostom) Agios IoannisChrysostomos(St.John Panagia Protothroni Panagia (VirginMary)Drosiani axiarchis Michail(Archangelichael)Panormitis axiarchis Michail(Archangelichael) riada (HolyT rinity) atIppotonStreet- ilos Island reece. the rarehistoricandculturalpalimpsestofGreece. a continuous dialogue with their orthodoxcounterparts,promoting worship of other churches and religions which have co-existed in In severalplaces,travellerscanalsovisitbuildingsandplacesof worship throughthecenturies. traditions aswellthecloseconnectionbetweenartandreligious the Meteoramonasteries(Thessaly)showintensededicationto • Island • • Monasteries Zante Island • • Island Churches Ionian • Ioannina • Preveza • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Drama • • • • • • • Early ChristianBasilicas • • • • • • • • Churches Thessaloniki Macedonia Panagia (VirginMary)OdigitriaatApolpena (MotherofGod)Anafonitria Forerunner) Agios IoannisProdromos(SaintJohnthe Early ChristianBasilicaatPalaiopolis Sosipater) Agioi IasonandSosipatros(aintsJason Philanthropenoi Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)Monasteryof Agios DimitriosMonasteryatK Episcopal Churchat Kastron -Servia Agioi TheodoroiatS ervia Agioi AnargyroiatS ervia Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)atVelvento Agios MinasatVelvento Panagia (VirginMary)Koumpelidikior astriotissa Agioi Anargyroi Agios Stefanos(t.tephen) Agios Georgios(St.eorge)-Omorfokklisia Agios GermanosatPrespes Old Cathedral-Veroia Megas Theologos-Veroia Agios Vlasios-Veroia Saviour) -Veroia Anastasis SotirosChristou(ResurrectionofChrist Agios K Agios Athanasios(St.Athanasius)atKoustochori T Agia Sofia God) atNoubenitsa Koimisis tisTheotokou(DormitionoftheMother Agios NikolaosatPerivoli Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)atDiporo Agia ParaskeviatPalaiochori Latomou Monastery Rotunda Acheiropoiitos Profitis Ilias(ProphetElijah) Panagia Chalkeon Agioi Apostoloi(HolyApostles) Agios Panteleimon Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)Orphanos Agios Dimitrios Agia Sofia Agia Aikaterini(St.Catherine) axiarchis (TheArchangel) yrikos andAgiaIoulitta-Veroia ypseli • • • • • • • Churches Lesvos Island Northeast AegeanIslands • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Monasteries • Early ChristianBasilicas Mount Athos(HolyMountain) • • • Monasteries • • • • • Early ChristianBasilicas • • • Edessa • • • • • • • • • Koimisis tisTheotokouatPetra God) atAgiassos Koimisis tisTheotokou( Dormition oftheMother Agios Stefanos(t.tephen)atMantamados Agios Ioannis(St.John)atKerami Agios Therapon-Mytilini Agios Georgios(St.eorge)atAnemotia Agios Athanasios(St.Athanasius)-Mytilini Chilandariou Filotheou Simonos Petras(orimonopetra) Pantokratoros Xiropotamou Xenofontos Megisti Lavra Konstamonitou Koutloumousiou Karakallou Iviron Zografou Esfigmenou Docheiariou Dionysiou Grigoriou Vatopedi Agios Pavlos(SaintPaul) Agios Panteleimon Church ofProtaton Agia T Zygou -Chalkidiki Agia AnastasiaFarmakolytria (Chalkidiki) Agios Achilleios Basilica ofKatichoumenonatServia-ozani Agia Paraskevi-Kozani Old Cathedral Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)-Elaionas Old Cathedral Middle-Byzantine ChurchatSisani Koimisis tisTheotokou-Aiani God) atDilofo Koimisis tisTheotokou(DormitionoftheMother Serres T Prespes Hermitage ofMikriAnalipsi(SmallAscension)- God) atSpilaio-revena Koimisis tisTheotokou(DormitionoftheMother Zavorda -Grevena Blessed VirginMary)atVounasia-Grevena Evangelismos tisPanagias(Annunciationtothe Saviour) atDryovouno-Kozani Metamorfosis touSotiros(T imios Prodromos(St.JohntheForerunner) - riada (HolyT at Sfikia-Imathia Amphipolis at at Prespes-Florina rinity) atVythos-Kozani ransfiguration of Christ ransfiguration ofChrist • • Monasteries • • • Lakonia • • • Monasteries • Arkadia • • Early ChristianBasilicas Korinthia • Monastery • Ileia • • Messinia • • Argolida • Monastery • • Achaia Churches Peloponnese • • • • • • Limnos Island • Agios EfstratiosIsland • • • • • • Monasteries • • • Early ChristianBasilicas • • Megalo Spilaio- Agios Georgios(St.eorge)Feneos Monastery -Chrysafa Agioi T Agios Nikolaos(St. icholas) atAgoriani (St.Barbara)atErimos T Filosofou -Dimitsana Saviour) atLoukous Metamorfosi touSotiros(T Agioi Apostoloi(HolyApostles)atLeontarion at at KatoSikyon Frangavilla Panagia (VirginMary)Katholiki-Gastouni Saviour) atNomitsi Metamorfosis touSotiros(T Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)-Platsa God) atMerbakas Koimisis tisTheotokou(DormitionoftheMother Lygourio Agios IoannisEleimon(St.JohntheMerciful)at -Kalavryta Agios Nikolaos-Platani, Agios Andreas(St.Andrew)-Patras Nea Monionastery Early ChristianBasilicaofAgiosIsidoros Panagia (VirginMary)Krina Agioi ApostoloiatPyrgi Panagia (VirginMary)Kakaviotissa Agios Georgios(St.eorge)atRepanidi Agios Vasileios(St.Basil) Katholikon (MainChurch)ofT Ypsilou T Perivoli Mantamados Pammegiston T Koimisis tisTheotokouatDamantri at Chalinados Agios Fokas - Vatera Agios Andreas(St.Andrew)-kalaEressou Panagia (VirginMary)T Saviour) atPapiana Metamorfosis touSotiros(T axiarches (Archangels)Leimonos imios Stavros(HolyCross)-Doliana Lechaion essarakonta (Righteous Forty Martyrs) axiarchon (HolyArchangels)at rouloti ransfiguration ofChrist ransfiguration ofChrist ransfiguration ofChrist axiarches • Rodopi • Evros Thrace • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Monasteries • Larisa • • • • • • • • • • • • Churches Thessaly • Island • Island Papikion Mountain onasteries World) Monastery Panagia Kosmosoteira(VirginMarySaviourofthe Koimisis tisTheotokouatVitouma Olympiotissa atElassona-Larisa Kanalon atarya-Larisa Ano MoniPanagiasXenias-agnisia Rentina -Karditsa Petra -Karditsa Pelekiti -Karditsa Korona -arditsa Karditsa Koimisis tisTheotokouatoumpouriana- God) -Karditsa Genesion tisTheotokou(NativityoftheMother Agios GeorgiosatMyrofyllo-Karditsa Agios GeorgiosatMavromati-Karditsa Katholikon ofStagiadonMonastery-T - T Katholikon (MainChurch)ofSiamadononastery Megales Pyles(Porta )-T Agios Vissarion-Dousiko,T Rousanou atMeteora Great Meteoron-eteora Varlaam -Meteora Agios Stefanos(t.tephen)-Meteora Agios Nikolaos(St.icholas)Anapafsas-Meteora Agia T God) atAetolofos-Agia Koimisis tisTheotokou(DormitionoftheMother Porta PanagiaatPyli Koimisis tisTheotokouatalampaka Apostles Peter&Paul)atKlokotos Agioi ApostoloiPetros&Pavlos(TheHoly Varousi Agioi Anargyroi(KosmasandDamianos)at Agios Georgios(St.eorge)atVasiliki God) atelanthi Koimisis tisTheotokou(DormitionoftheMother God) atNeraidaDolopon Genesion tisTheotokou(NativityoftheMother at Paliouri Agios IoannisTheologos(St.Johntheheologian) Dimitrios Agios GeorgiosatRentinaandChapelof Agios GeorgiosatLefki Agios Athanasios(St.Athanasius)atPalamas Agia T Evangelistria DaponteMonastery Evangelistria Monastery rikala riada (HolyT riada (HolyT rinity) -Meteora rinity) atDrakotrypa rikala rikala rikala www.visitgreece.gr Follow Discover the fascination of Greece through our website!

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