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Churches in Athens
Panagia Pantanassa (Virgin
Mary Queen of all)
The church of Saint Mary Pantanassa is in Monastiraki square between
Athinas street and Mitropoleos street opposite the Monastiraki
metro station. The church used to be known as the Great Monastery
and later as Monastiraki (the little monastery). This is the origin
of the name of the whole area.
Excavations
for the new metro station uncovered remains of a floor mosaic
from the 5the century as well as remains of houses from that period.
The original church was probably built on the site in the 11th
century. The contemporary church dates back to the 17the century
and is the best preserved of the three aisled barrel-vaulted basilicas
that were modeled on the church of Saint Dionysios Areopagite.
The
central aisle is raised higher than the others and is covered
by a barrel vault whereas the side aisles are covered by cross
vaults. According to a patriarchal sigillion (an official document
confirmed by a seal) of 1678, the Church of the Pantanassa was
formerly the metochion of the Monastery of Kaissariani on Hymittos
mountain. It was founded by Nikolaos Bonefazis (Bonefaccio) and
it was a women’s monastery. Later on the church developed
into the Great Monastery and the textiles produced there were
sold on the nearby market.
During
the 18th and 19th centuries, it was one of the most important
parish churches in Athens. Towards the end of the 19th century,
with archaeological excavations and the construction of the nearby
metro station, the church lost most of its monastic buildings
and was down-graded to a “monasteraki”.
The
church underwent repairs in 1911 and its western façade
was altered. The tall bell tower was also added at this time.
At present, extensive conservation and repair work is being carried
out both outside and in the interior of the church.