Metamorfoseos tou Sotiros Church
Metamorfoseos tou Sotiros Church is a Byzantine church at the foot of the Acropolis.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
1825 When the hero of the Greek Revolution, Odysseas Androutsos, was assassinated on the Acropolis, his body was thrown from the rocks and ended up in the church’s courtyard, where it was later secretly buried.
1966 Restoration began.
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
It was built around the end of the 11th and the beginning of the 12th century.
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
On the northern slope of the Acropolis Rock is the Middle-Byzantine Church of Metamorfoseos tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of the Saviour). It is a domed cruciform four- column inscribed church. The dome is octagonal, of Athenian type, with arched openings. This is part of the original (Byzantine) architecture of the church, as is most of the north facade, which was built with the brick-enclosed masonry system. Today, we do not see the original form of the church from the Byzantine years, but the form it acquired during the post-Byzantine-Ottoman years, with changes on the facades and additions, especially on the east and west sides. The capitals of the columns are reused and probably date to the Roman period.
What I can't see
The church is also known as “Sotirakis” (i.e. little Sotiris), due to its small size. On its southern side, a natural recess of the Acropolis rock houses part of the chapel of Agia Paraskevi. During the restoration of the church, parts of wall paintings were uncovered and vaulted tile-roofed tombs were discovered south of the church.
Info
- Address: Theorias St.
Bibliography
Zivas D.A., (2012), Αρχιτεκτονικός Οδηγός Αθηνών, [Architectural Guide of Athens], Cultural Foundation of Pireos Group
Bouras C., (2010), Βυζαντινή Αθήνα, 10ος– 12ος αιώνα, [Byzantine Athens 10th– 12th century], Benaki Museum
Unsigned (2014), Church of Transfiguration of the Saviour, in Navigating the routes of Art and Culture, Part 1, Athens, Ministry of Culture and Sports
