Thessaloniki Churches

Thessaloniki has a plenty of beautiful churches from large to small, which dates back from various eras. The most are situated in the upper city area, which is a warren of quaint with narrow cobbled streets. Some of the most important churches are the Saint George Church dating back from 4th century which was originally the mausoleum for Emperor Galerius, Agia Sophia the domed cruciform church among others beautiful and stunning churches. Also remember that all the churches are functioning places of worship where casual summer attire (short skirts for women, shorts or sleeveless shirts for men or women) may prevent you from entering and is considered highly disrespectful. Bottom line: wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.

The church was built in 1028 by the Byzantine officials (protospatharios) Christophoros. In 1430 it was converted into a mosque, after the conquest of Thessaloniki by the Turks and again became a Christian church with the liberation of the city, in 1912.

After the liberation, its wall paintings were cleaned from the Turkish plaster that covered them. In 1932 an earthquake damaged the building and subsequently restored, the narthex and the south pediment were then reconstructed. A similar work was also undertaken after the earthquake of 1978.

Christ at Panagia Chalkeon Church

The church was built in the middle of the 5th century, on the remains of a Roman bath. It was dedicated to the Holy Virgin "not made by human hands" (Acheiropoietos)-the name most probably refering to the cult image. A few fragments of mosaics have survived Of the interior decoration in the soffits of the arches of the colonnades, dated to the 5th century A.D. Several parts of the wall paintings dated to the 13th century, are also preserved in the south aisle.

It was the first church in Thessalonike to be converted into a mosque after the conquest of the city by the Turks, in 1430. During the turkish occupation, practically all the figurative decoration of the church in mosaics and frescoes was hammered down. In 1930, it was turned over to the Christian cult.

Extensive restoration work was undertaken at the beginning of the century, in 1927-28 and again, in 1949. After the earthquake of 1978, restoration of the monument began once again and the work is still in progress.

The marble iconostasis is preserved almost intact as well as a considerable amount of the painted decoration, which has been dated to 1310-1320 and is of a very high artistic quality.

The church was the catholicon (main church) of a monastery, dated to the early 14th century A.D. The name is related either to the philanthropic works of St. Nicholas for the sake of the orphans, or to the probable founder of the monastery, a member of the Byzantine Orphanos family. According to another suggestion, the church was founded by the Serbian kral, Milutin. It is actually a dependenceof the Vlatades Monastery and it functioned as a church even during the Turkish occupation.

Excavations on the interior of the church were conducted in 1959-60 and again, in 1971, at the propylon. The monument was restored in 1959-1960.

The first church was a small oratory, built shortly after 313 A.D. on the ruins of a Roman bath. In the 5th century A.D., the eparch Leontios founded on the same site a large, three-aisled basilica which was burnt down in 626-634. Shortly thereafter, the five-aisled basilica was erected. It was converted into a mosque in 1493, it was restored to Christian worship in 1912 but it was again destroyed in the great fire of 1917. It was rebuilt and started to function again in 1949.

A chapel of Saint Euthymios is attached to the south-east corner of the church. Very few fragments of the sculptural and pictorial (mosaics, wall paintings) decoration of the church, survived the disastrous fire of 1917 but they are representative of the successive phases of the monument's history.

During the restoration of the monument after the fire of 1917, several trenches were opened in the naos and the crypt. Systematic excavations were carried out in 1946-49.

Restoration of the church was undertaken immediately after the catastrophe of 1917. Work was stopped in 1938 and was again resumed in 1946. The monument was rebuilt and started to function again in 1949. Today the monument is used as a church. In the crypt of Aghios Demetrios, an exhibition is on display to the public. It includes the items that survived the fire of 1917 and those that were brought to light by the recent excavations in the monument.

Virgin Mary and Jesus at Aghios Demetrios Church

The church was the catholicon (main church) of a monastery, dated to the 14th century A.D. The monastery was once thought to be the Nea Moni but later it was identified as the Monastery of Akapnios, dedicated to Christ. The church was converted into a mosque after 1430 and restored to Christian worship after the liberation of the city in 1912. During the Turkish occupation, practically all the frescoes of the church were stripped away. The interior wall paintings of church, very few fragments survive today, especially in the narthex.

Excavations in the monument's precinct were carried out in the years 1987-1991. During the Turkish occupation, the monument was reinforced with colossal buttresses, due to serious stability problems. Its present form is the result of a series of restorations and interventions which were completed in 1961.

The church was the catholicon (main church) of the Monastery of Theotocos Perivleptos. During the Turkish occupation it was converted into a mosque, probably between the years 1568-1571. Nearly all the frescoes that adorned the interior of the church were then hammered down and its walls whitewashed. After the liberation of the city in 1912, the monument was restored to Christian worship.

Excavations in the front courtyard of the church were conducted by the 9th E.B.A. in 1973. After the earthquake of 1978, several trenches were opened inside the building and in the surrounding area. The restoration of the monument is still in progress. When the monument is completely restored, it will be turned over to Christian worship.

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