Old Criminal Court
The Old Criminal Court was built on the ruins of a church.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
1835 Beginning of construction.
1837 Completion.
1955 Became property of the Church of Greece.
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
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
It is a two-storey neoclassical building and during the most recent restoration, the later additions were removed and its original architecture was revealed. It is a simple, strict and robust building, in harmony with the purpose it served, that is, housing the criminal court of Athens. It has been designated a listed monument and incorporated part of the church of Agia Eleoussa, which had suffered damage during the Greek War of Independence. Today, the building houses the Patriarchal Library.
What I can't see
When the capital of the country was moved from Nafplio to Athens, the buildings were not sufficient to house even basic state functions and it was frequent churches to be used for these purposes, as for example Christokopidis, which housed the supreme court. Similarly, the church of Agia Eleoussa housed the city’s criminal court. The building is believed to have been designed by Christian Hansen and according to Kambouroglou, the Patriarch of Jerusalem Parthenios Gerenis was buried in the church of Agia Eleoussa. It was utilized in various ways over the years, such as housing a police station, registry office, offices, warehouses and shops.
Info
- Address: 4 Ag. Eleousis & Kakourgiodikiou St.
Bibliography
National Research Foundation, (d.u.), Αρχαιολογία της πόλης των Αθηνών, [Archaeology of the city of Athens], in
https://archaeologia.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/arxeio_more.aspx?id=50
Last visit 6/7/2024
Mitropoulou K., (d.u.), Αθήνα, μνήμες και κτήρια, [Athens, memories and buildings], Athens: Sideris Publication
