Panagia Ekatontapiliani

Panagia Ekatontapyliani

The Panagia Ekatontapyliani (Greek Παναγία η Εκατονταπυλιανή, Madonna with the hundred gates ', also Katapoliani ) is a Byzantine church complex in Parikia on the Greek island of Paros. The Ekatontapyliani is an important place of pilgrimage in the Aegean, second only to the famous pilgrimage church on the nearby island of Tinos.

History

The church was founded by the legend of Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, as they made ​​a stop during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land on the island. According to tradition, it was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian of Isidore, one of the architects of the Hagia Sofia. The complex was heavily damaged by an earthquake in the 18th century, but gradually restored.

The origin of the church name is unclear, since the construction does not have a hundred doors or gates. One theory suggests that it might be a corruption of the name Katapoliani, which can be roughly translated as " the faces of the city " and describes the location of the complex in front of the old town of Parikia.

First church building at this place are already proven for the fourth century after Christ. After parts of earlier buildings - possibly by fire - had been destroyed, the church was rebuilt during the reign of Justinian II in its visible form today.

Description

The complex consists of the main church, two other chapels attached to it and a baptistery with a cruciform font.

A special feature is the marble baptismal font in the former baptistery dar. In the complex church there are small chapels to Saints Cosmas and Damian and the local saint of the island, the holy Theoktisti consecrated.