The Church of Prophet Elijah is a small and historic church located in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is a beautiful example of Byzantine architecture, and it is worth visiting for its history and its atmosphere.
The church was built in the 14th century, and it was originally dedicated to Christ. It was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Thessaloniki in 1430, but it was restored to a church after the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
The interior of the church is small and simple, but it is beautifully decorated. The walls are covered with frescoes, and the ceiling is decorated with a mosaic.
The keeper of the church is very friendly and knowledgeable. He was happy to answer my questions about the church and its history, and he also recommended a walk through the old town that I really enjoyed.
I would definitely recommend visiting the Church of Prophet Elijah if you are in Thessaloniki. It is a great place to learn about the history of the city and to experience Byzantine...
Read moreThe imposing Profitis Ilias Church is situated at the low border of Ano Poli, on the same road and very close to where the Great Fire of 1917 started. It's another tetrastyle, cross-in-quare structure, with a very beautiful narthex at the western entrance. Limited amount of murals survive on its walls from the late 13th, early 14th century AD, the date of the church...
Read moreIn Ottoman times, it was known as the Saraylı Mosque (Palace Mosque or Court Mosque), and through a misinterpretation of this name came about its modern dedication to the Prophet Elijah. It has been traditionally identified as the katholikon of the Nea Moni monastery, built ca. 1360–1370 on the site of a former palace destroyed in 1342 by the...
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