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information guide about Athens, Greece
Churches in Athens
Metamorforsi Tou Sotiros (Transfiguration
of the Savior)
Walking along Theorias street at the northern foot of the Acropolis,
after the junction with Klepsidras street, you’ll see the
small church of the Savior, also known as Sotirakis (small Savior)
because of its size. Judging on the style, the church can be dated
to the second half of the 11th century. It is a four-columned,
cross-inscribed church with a tall and elegant Athenian dome,
typical for the monuments of that time.
The
northern and southern sides as well as the dome have remained
intact. The western sides are more recent. The exterior walls
have been built in sculpted stone surrounded by bricks (cloisonné
style). In some parts of the walls there are bricks cut into decorative
shapes, forming rhombuses and crooked lines. These are called
brickwork patterns and were frequently used for the decoration
of the external walls of Byzantine monuments in Southern Greece.
To
the south of the church, there is a small chapel carved in the
Acropolis rock. It is dedicated to Saint Paraskevi.
Theorias street – Anafiotika
Monastiraki – Acropoli
For
typical words, please consult our Greek
glossary.