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information guide about Athens, Greece
Churches in Athens
Agios Thomas (Saint
Thomas)
The remains of the Byzantine church of Saint Thomas are situated
on Vrissakiou street behind the Stoa of Attalos. The church’s
apses can be seen on the east, as well as the bases of the columns
that separated the church’s aisles and a number of marble
architectural elements.
The
church was first built in the 6th-7th century and was renovated
between the 9th and the 10th century. Soon after the Ottomans
had occupied the country, the church was deserted and left in
ruins until the 17th century when a new church was built on the
same site. Up until the end of Ottoman rule, Saint Thomas was
the church of the Lympones family who were buried here and who
descended from the Athenian branch of the Palaiologos family.
Between
1834-35, the church and the entire surrounding area were sold
by the state to Prince Georgios Katakouzinos who demolished the
church in order to build more houses. Manolis Chatzidakis excavated
the major part of the church’s remains.
Vrissakiou street
Monastiraki
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typical words, please consult our Greek
glossary.