Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Gorgoepikoos and Saint Eleutherius — Attraction in Athens

The Little Metropolis formally the Church of St. Eleutherios or Panagia Gorgoepikoos (She who is quick to hear) is a Byzantine church located at the Mitropoleos Square next to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens at the feet of Plaka neighborhood. It is a small temple of unique architectural and decorative style and is considered one of the finest ecclesiastical edifices of Athens. The church is built on top of the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Eileithyia, the ancient Greek Goddess of childbirth. The exact date of its construction remains unknown but is generally estimated to have been around the end of the 12th century AD. Originally dedicated to the Panagia Gorgoepikoos after the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary that once laid here, it acquired the name "Little Metropolis" because this church is located next to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. The Little Metropolis church was consecutively used as a warehouse for relics and antiquities as well as a public library of Athens from 1834 until 1863, when it was re-dedicated as a church, first to Christ the Saviour, and then to Saint Eleutherios. In 1856, the church underwent restoration to its original. The church has a typical Byzantine layout, being cross-in-square, with a three-aisled nave with the central aisle higher than the flanking ones.The octagonal dome was originally supported by four columns, but these were replaced in the 19th century by piers.It is a small structure, just 7.6 metres long and 12.2...

One of the lovely things about Greece, and Athens in particular, is they way you stumble over delightful churches in the most unlikely places. This is one such example. The pedestrianised shopping streets between Parliament square (Syntagmatos) and Monastirki make for a fascinating evening stroll. The place is buzzing at night and is clearly the place to be. But, seemingly out of nowhere, you find this delightful little church. We loved the fact that churches are usually open and free to enter and look around. This church is small but beautiful. It is also clearly a place where locals or visitors come to pray, to light a candle and to find some spiritual solace in the midst of a hectic and vibrant shopping area. If you are into architecture and buildings it is worth a look. If you are interested in history then marvel at the place this little church has within the developing shopping environment. If you are on a Christian pilgrimage, then step inside and offer a prayer of thanks that, at the centre of a bustling shopping centre, God is in the midst of our...

A Very mistic church. The church has a typical Byzantine layout, being cross-in-square, with a three-aisled nave with the central aisle higher than the flanking ones. The octagonal dome was originally supported by four columns, but the se were replaced in the 19th century by piers. It is a small structure, just 7.6 metres (25 ft) long and 12.2 metres (40 ft) wide.The walls are built exclusively of reused marble spolia, comprising undecorated masonry up to the height of the windows, and featuring a total of ninety sculptures above that; this feature makes the church unique among Byzantine sacred architecture. Unlike common practice in contemporary Byzantine architecture, no bricks have been used, except for the dome. Its interior was originally decorated entirely with frescoes, but only one of these survives today: an image of the Panagia over the...