Agia Ekaterini church
Agia Ekaterini church is a Byzantine church in Ano Poli.
Modern and Contemporary era (1912 - )
1947 Restoration works began. They were completed in 1951.
1978 Fixing works due to earthquake.
Ottoman era (1453- 1912)
1510 Possible year of conversion to a mosque.
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
It was built in the late 13th to early 14th century, probably around 1310. The frescoes are from the same period.
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 church of Agia Ekaterini is a typical example of the architecture of the Palaiologos dynasty era (late Byzantine period). It is a composite four-column inscribed church with 5 domes and an ambulatory ending in 2 chapels. It has a human scale, rich ceramic decoration, niches on the domes, stepped arches, plinth semi-columns, marble architectural members from older monuments, elegant proportions and other interesting architectural elements that make the church a rare example of the Paleologian renaissance in Macedonia. During the Ottoman period, it was converted into a mosque. When it was restored as a Christian church, few but excellent frescoes were discovered, examples of the city’s artistic heyday. The frescoes have a unique realism and include the Eucharist and Communion, scenes from the life of Christ and saints, angels and prophets.
What I can't see
There were many Byzantine churches in Thessaloniki. According to tradition, they were over 350. The available sources refer to more than 50 churches and 40 monasteries. Today, a total of 15 are preserved. We do not know what the original name of the church was. Perhaps it was dedicated to Christ and may have been a monastery’s main church. When it was converted into a mosque, it was named Yakup Pasha Mosque.
Info
- Address: Ious & Tsamadou St.
Bibliography
Zafeiris Ch. (1997), Θεσσαλονίκης Εγκόλπιον, ιστορία, πολιτισμός, η πόλη σήμερα, γεύσεις, μουσεία, μνημεία, διαδρομές, [Thessaloniki Handbook, history, culture, the city today, flavours, museums, routes], Athens: Exantas
Kourkoutidou- Nikolaidou E., Tourta A., (1997), Περίπατοι στη Βυζαντινή Θεσσαλονίκη, [Walks in the Byzantine Thessaloniki], Athens: Kapon publications
Paisidou M., (d.u.), Βυζαντινές εκκλησίες Θεσσαλονίκης, [Byzantine churches of Thessaloniki], Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki
