What I can see

The Holy Trinity Church is a restored medieval church, which was devoted either to St. Nicodemus (according to the historian Biris) or to Our Saviour Lykodemos (according to the historian Kambouroglou). This octagonal church has an imposing dome that covers most of its interior. The subsequent belltower is of neo-Byzantine-style. The exterior of the church is adorned with a frieze bearing pseudo-kufic patterns and toothed strips. It is built using the enclosed brick technique (i.e. rectangular stones framed with bricks).

What I can't see

The church was badly damaged during the Greek Revolution. It had previously and partially been destroyed in a 1705 earthquake, while in 1780 the Ottoman governor of Athens Hajji Ali Chaseki had demolished part of it, in order to expand the precinct of the city. The remaining sections have survived in good condition.  Following the incorporation of the city of Athens to the newly-founded Greek State, the Russian embassy claimed the church in order to meet the religious needs of its community. It was supervised by the military engineer Tilemachos Vlassopoulos. The hagiographic paintings, which replaced the medieval ones, were by the Bavarian painter and philhellene Ludwig Thiersch. Very few murals of the middle byzantine era have survived.

Info

• Address: Filellinon and Souri St.

Bibliography