Christokopidis

What I can see

The church has been built with chiseled stone from Piraeus; it is a three-aisled basilica with a dome, supported by 4 columns, has harmonious proportions and a cruciform roof. Its length is almost twice its width. The aisles are separated by marble columns and arches and the central aisle is larger and higher. In addition, 2 bell towers make the church look grandeur, it has relief decoration, an attic which functioned as women’s gallery, marble cladding, a marble iconostasis and many luxurious decorative elements, such as stained glass windows, wall paintings (19th and 20th centuries) among which the figure of Christ Almighty in the dome stands out, the royal throne of Queen Amalia, the Beautiful Gate, the royal door, the marble pulpit, wood carvings and many other objects.

What I can't see

It was built on the site of a smaller, older, post-Byzantine church, which had also been built on the ruins of an ancient Doric temple. This successive course of the temples may also explain the unusual orientation of the church towards the north. It was probably designed by Ernst Ziller. It is dedicated to the Nativity of Christ, as was the post-Byzantine church and probably belonged to the Kopidis family, hence the name Christokopidis. During the 16th century, the post-Byzantine church functioned as a centre for charity and clothing. When Athens became capital and the newly established Greek state lacked infrastructure, many Christian churches were used for state needs, such as the criminal court, which operated in the church of Agia Eleoussa. Christokopides hosted the Supreme Court.

Info

• Address: 2 Christokopidou St.

Bibliography