The Russian Church/ Sotira Lykodemou
The Holy Trinity Church is a restored medieval church, which was devoted either to St. Nicodemus or to Our Savior Lykodemos.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
1847 Became property of the Russian community of Athens.
1850 The restoration of the church began, but it stopped in April 1851, due to extreme moisture on the walls.
1852 Restoration works restarted in August and completed in 1855.
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
1031 Construction.
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
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
http://www.eie.gr/byzantineattica/view.asp?cgpk=490&xsl=detail&obpk=345&lg=el,
Last visit 24/12/12
Yohalas T., Kafetzaki Τ., (2013), Αθήνα, Ιχνηλατώντας την πόλη με οδηγό την ιστορία και τη λογοτεχνία [Athens, Tracing thecity guidedby history andliterature], ESTIA Bookstore
Kounoupiotou- Manolessou E., (1995), Σωζόμενες Βυζαντινές Εκκλησίες, [Surviving Byzantine Churches], Αθήνα: Μνήμες Βυζαντινές, [Athens: Byzantine Memories], Epta Imeres, Kathimerini, p.p. 2-17
Biris K. H. (1966), Αι Αθήναι από του 19ου εις τον 20ον αιώνα, [Athens from the 19th up to the 20th century], 5th edition 2005, Athens, Melissa
