Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani - Hundred Doors (Paros)
The Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani is one of the most significant Byzantine monuments of Greece and is situated in Pirikia, the capital of Paros island, a short distance from its port; east of the old town of Paros.
The church was renovated in 1962 by the professor An. Orlandos. In the 4th cent, there was a little church on the site of the contemporary church. The little church had been on the site of an ancient Greek building. This initial building has been extended while the church got to its contemporary structure during the era of the emperor Justinianos (6th cent). The interior of the church demonstrates, apart from the marble temple, the icon of the Theotokos on the left of the entrance; it is considered to be the work of St Apostle Luke. The tomb of St. Theoktisti, the Episcopal throne behind the Altar and the protochristian "Vaptistirion" (the christening place). The church celebrates its feast day August 15.
Contents
The Main Temple
The Iconostassis
Chapels
- The Chapel of St. Theoktiste of Lesbos.
- The Chapel of St. Nicholas
- The Chapel of the Holy Unmercenaries Ss. Anargyron
- The Chapel of St. Philip
- The Chapel of St. Theodosia
- The Chapel of St. Demetrios
The Baptismal Font
Portable Icons
- The "Praying Virgin" (circa 15th Century)
- The "Pure One" (circa 16th century)
- The "Holy Trinity - St. Zion"
- The "Panagia Eleousa"
The Old Monument Gate and its Legend
See also
- Metropolis of Paronaxia
- St. Theoktiste of Lesbos (November 9), [1] [2] - she lived inside the church before dying martyrically at the hands of pirates.
Notes
- ↑ What we know about St. Theoktisti we owe primarily to St. Symeon Metaphrastes ("the Translator"), renowned primarily for his Lives of the Saints (148 of them).
- ↑ Theoctiste is from Lesbos, however, due to the archaeological and historical importance of her association with the Church of Panagia Ekatontapyliani - Hundred Doors she is also classified as a Parian local saint.
