Holy Church of Saint Nicholas Rangavas — Attraction in Athens

If Barack Obama ever wandered through the charming streets of Athens’ Plaka district, he might stumble upon the Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas. You can just picture him pausing, taking in the Byzantine beauty, and saying, “Now this is a piece of history.”

Built in the 11th century by the noble Rangavas family—who had ties to Byzantine Emperor Michael I Rangabe—this church has seen its fair share of action. In 1687, during the Venetian siege led by Morosini, a cannonball crashed into its walls. But like any resilient Athenian, it stood tall, got patched up in the 18th century, and underwent a facelift in the 1970s to restore its former glory. 

Stepping inside, Obama would admire the classic Byzantine architecture: the cross-in-square design, the “Athenian” dome, and the cloisonné masonry where stones are framed by bricks. He’d nod approvingly at the ancient marble columns repurposed in its walls—a testament to Athens’ knack for blending eras. 

And here’s a fun tidbit: after the Greek War of Independence, this church was the first in Athens to ring its bell, symbolizing newfound freedom. Obama, ever the history buff, would appreciate that.  

In essence, the Church of Agios Nikolaos Rangavas isn’t just a building; it’s a storyteller, echoing tales of empires, battles, and rebirth. A must-see for anyone,...

The Byzantine imperial temple of Agios Nikolaos Ragavas is located northeast of the Acropolis, near the monument of Lysikrates.

It is one of the most beautiful historical churches of Plaka.

Originally built in the 9th century, by Theophylaktos, son and co-emperor of Michael I, with the infrastructure of an ancient temple, it was destroyed by an unknown cause, and was rebuilt two hundred years later.

The temple played an important role in medieval Athens. At first it was private, but eventually it became and still remains parish.

Experts date the existing building to the 11th century (1040-1050) due to the stylistic characteristics that are similar to those of numerous churches of this period.

After the 11th century it underwent significant changes and additions.

It is one of the most important Byzantine monuments...

I attended a Sunday morning service here, which was beautiful and inspiring. The Byzantine singing was moving and indeed mesmerizing. They had three singers, good voices, including an excellent professional lady -- quite a revelation. If you have a few key words of Greek, you can follow the liturgy quite well, since the order of service is similar. The priest is clearly a lovely man, welcoming the "xenon" (the foreigner, me) during the service, and we had a very pleasant talk afterward. The community was warm too, engaging me in conversation. Someone took the time showing me around the beautiful church afterwards. All in all a perfect experience. If I lived in Athens, this would seem to be a lovely and lively...