What I can see

This small church is a single-aisled vaulted basilica, built on ancient ruins. It is dedicated to the Holy Power, the patron of pregnant women. In 1961, the adjacent building was constructed, which almost made the church “disappear”. This caused a huge reaction from scientists and citizens.

What I can't see

It also has the name “Mentelitissa”, an alteration of “Pentelitissa”, because it was a dependency of Penteli Monastery. It was called “of Rodakio” as well, because it is located in the then-Rodakio district. There had been a courtyard and other buildings in the vicinity, but they were demolished for the Mitropoleos Street opening and the construction of the nearby building. In 1641, the Jesuit monk Francesco, who taught French and Italian, lived near this church. Eventually, he was expelled because he was accused of proselytizing. In the Greek Revolution, his home was connected by an underground passage to the church, and it served as a munitions workshop for a Pavlidis ancestor, of the known chocolate factory family. During the day, he manufactured ammunition for the Turks at a very slow pace, and in the evening for the Greeks at a very quick one.

Info

• Address: 15 Mitropoleos and Pentelis St.

Bibliography