The Petrakis Monastery is situated in the densely populated Lycavittos district, behind the Evangelismos Hospital. The main entrance
to the monastery complex is on 14, Ioannou Gennadiou street. This
leads into a small garden and next to the impressive katholikon
(main church), the Church of Saints Assomati Taxiarches, consecrated
to the Archangels. Behind the church are the administrative offices
of the church of Greece.
No
written documents record the church’s foundation but architecturally
the buildings can be dated to between the end of the 10th century
and the beginning of the 11th. The complex was repaired and renovated
numerous times from the 15th century on. The most significant
renovation took place in 1673 when the monastery took on the name
Petrakis after the monk-physician Parthenios Petrakis from Dimitsana
who financed the restoration.
In
the 18th century, the monastery became patriarchal. From then
on, its abbots were elected from the Petrakis family. The monastery’s
main church is one of the oldest and most important in Athens.
It is of the complex tetra style cross-in-square type. Only the
three semi-circular apses have survived of the original church.
The octagonal dome with rounded corners and the slightly concave
sides, date from the later Byzantine era (1204-1453).
The
outer narthex (front portal) was added at the beginning of the
19th century when the sanctuary was extended to the west. The
church is constructed mostly of rubble masonry and the cloisonné
style was only adopted on the repaired higher parts. There is
a characteristic lack of brick pattern decorations. The roofs
lack any strong graduations and this differentiates the church
from other monuments of this era in Athens.
As
a whole, the main church seems to be based on the traditions of
the architectural school of Constantinople. According to an inscription
over the southern column, the katholikon (main church) was decorated
with mural paintings in 1719, when Damaskinos was abbot of the
monastery, by the painter Georgios Markou from Argos. He was the
most significant religious painter in Athens and Attica during
the 18th century. He created a local school with numerous apprentices
and a lot of work. He was influenced by Cretan painters and was
also familiar with Italian art though his own style remained conservative.
The
Petrakis Monastery in Athens’ modern history
By
the mid-19th century, the Petrakis Monastery acquired
important property thanks to the abbots’ persistent
drive and energy in dealing with the authorities. Many
surviving legal documents, both Greek and Ottoman, relate
to the acquisition of land and show that it was advantageous
for the monastery to take over other monasteries nearby
and use them as a metochia (parish).
The
monastery gradually donated the majority of its property
to the public, thus becoming one of the greatest benefactors
of Athens. Former monastic property was donated to found
hospitals (Evangelismos, Sotiria, Syngrou), religious
institutions (Rizareios School), educational and cultural
institutions (Athens Academy, Technical University, Gennadeios
Library).
The
monastic community made a significant social contribution,
especially during Ottoman rule, by providing people with
medical care and promoting culture. Abbot Dionissyos Petrakis
led a delegation from Athens to Constantinople and contributed
to the removal of the tyrannical Governor of Athens, Hadji
Ali Haseki.
The
monastery financially supported the Ioannis Dekas School,
founded a school of science for young Athenians and was
a member of the Philomousos Society. During the Greek
War of Independence of 1821, the Ottomans plundered the
monastery. After the foundation of the Greek State, the
monastery was used for a while as the national armory
and military hospital. During the Balkan Wars it was used
again by the army while after 1922, it housed Greek refugees
from Turkey. During the German occupation, the abbot provided
Sunday meals to needy children.
Monis street – Kolonaki
Evangelismos
For
typical words, please consult our Greek
glossary.