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Churches
in Athens
Agii Anargyri Kolokinthi (Healing
Saints)
The Church of Saints Anargyri (Healing Saints) Kolokinthi is situated
on Erechteos street in Anafiotika. It is known as the Monastery
Dependency (metochion or parish) of the Holy Sepulcher since it
belongs to the Patriarchate of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.
The church is typical of the style that developed exclusively
in Athens during the Ottoman rule. It is a part of an alley where
the premises of the Exarchate in Athens are situated, together
with a number of remaining cells from a former monastic building.
The
Church of Saints Anargyri was built ca. 1600. It was built on
the Palaiologos family burial site but funded by the Kolokinthis
family. The priest Dimitrios Kolokinthis turned the church into
a monastery in 1651 and left his whole estate to it. It was a
women’s monastery until 1700, next a men’s monastery
until the mid-18th century when it came under the jurisdiction
of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
In
1858 it was renovated and decorated with mural paintings while
in 1972-73, the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities carried out
conservation work on its exterior. A number of important historical
documents, also known as “anargyrian quotations”,
have been found here.
Saints
Anargyri is a single-naved, barrel-vaulted church with its vault
and semi-domes ending in squinches. The church’s porch and
tribune were added during its renovation. The type of roofing
encountered here was influenced by the Islamic public buildings
of the era. The corners are made of large marble or stone blocks
that were parts of older buildings while the masonry with small,
plain stones is typical of the period.
There
are stoned arches over the windows while at the top of the walls
there is a dented cornice. One can also see traces of the brick
decoration around the church’s earlier entrance alongside
the contemporary one. The church’s interior decoration is
more recent. The wall paintings show western influences and are
surrounded by classical plaster decorations. The wooden screen
is neoclassical with artistic elements from Ottoman era as is
the marble bell tower. According to the inscriptions underneath
the entrance cornice, the church took its present form following
its 1858 renovations. They were founded by the Patriarchate of
Jerusalem.
The
church of Saints Anargyri is one of the best known in Athens particularly
because of its close association with the Easter religious celebrations:
this is where the Holy Light from Jerusalem first arrives on the
night of Saturday before Easter Sunday and on Good Friday the
epitaph is taken from the church in a procession around the small
streets of the area.
Erechteos street - Anafiotika
Monastiraki – Acropoli
For
typical words, please consult our Greek
glossary.