Church of the Acheiropoietos

The church of Panagia Acheiropoietos in Thessaloniki (Greek Παναγία Αχειροποίητος Panagia Achiropiitos ), is a timber-roofed, three-aisled basilica from the 5th century. The basilica is one of the few early Byzantine church buildings, which have been preserved almost unchanged in their original form to this day. It is located in the city center in the Agias Sofias Street - opposite the Makedonomachon Square just north of the Egnatia street and since 1988 has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage ( Early Christian and Byzantine buildings in Thessaloniki ).

History

The church was built on the site of a large thermal spa complex, which was at least until the late 4th century in use. The construction time of the Basilikia is not historically documented and can essentially be accessed only from facts on the monument. The most important indication of a date in the second half of the 5th century. serves the architectural sculpture. The church was probably ordained from the beginning of the Mother of God. The now popular term " Acheiropoietos " ( " not made ​​with hands " ) derives from an icon of the Mother of God. This name is first attested by a document from the year 1320. The few older references that can be related to the church, they always refer to as the Church of Theotokos. At least since the 14th century, the Mother of God was worshiped here, together with the Holy Demetrius. After the Islamic conquest of Thessaloniki 1430, the Acheiropoietos was converted as the first church in the city into a mosque. The conversion is documented by an inscription in the eighth column of the north arcade of the nave. The basilica acted henceforth under the name ' " Eski Camii " or " Eski Camii cuma " ( old mosque ) as the main mosque of the city. Sultan Mehmet IV prayed here in 1673 during his visit Thessaloniki. After passing the town of Greece, the basilica served temporarily as an emergency shelter for war refugees; since 1930 it has been used as a church again.

Construction and Equipment

The church with open roof truss is 36.5 meters long and 28 meters wide. In the West it is terminated by a narthex, of which the Church is achieved via a Trivelum. On the south side are a monumental gateway and the former baptistery. The nave is closed by a semicircular apse and separated from the aisles by two-storey arcades. In the east, one of the St. Irene is consecrated chapel. The capitals are part antique, part date from the 5th century, from the mosaics are also fragments are preserved (especially in the arch of the arcades ). Frescoes from the 13th century set the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste dar.