Church_of_the_Holy_Apostles,_Athens Knowpia

The Church of the Holy Apostles, also known as Holy Apostles of Solaki (Greek: Άγιοι Απόστολοι Σολάκη), is located in the Ancient Agora of Athens, Greece, next to the Stoa of Attalos, and can be dated to around the late 10th century.^[1]

History edit

"Solakis" may be the family name of those who sponsored a renovation of the church in the Ottoman Period, or from "Solaki" for the densely populated area around the church in the 19th century.^[2]^[3]

The church is particularly significant as the only monument in the Agora, other than the Temple of Hephaestus, to survive intact since its foundation, and for its architecture: it was the first significant church of the Middle Byzantine period in Athens, and marks the beginning of the so-called "Athenian type", successfully combining the simple four-pier with the cross-in-square forms. The church was built partly over a 2nd-century nymphaion, and was restored to its original form between 1954 and 1957.^[4]

From evidence of various repairs and reconstructions, four distinct building phases can be distinguished. The original floorplan is a cross with apses on four sides and a narthex on the west side, with four columns supporting a dome. The altar and floor were originally of marble. Tiles on the outer walls have Kufic-like decorative patterns.^[5]

A few surviving wall paintings in the central aisle date to the 17th century, and paintings from nearby churches were also placed elsewhere within the church.^[6]

The roof of the church from the inside.
Interior of the Church of the Holy Apostles.
A mural in the Church of the Holy Apostles.

References edit

^ Bouras, Charalambos. Byzantine Athens. New York: Routledge, 2017.
^ Dumont, Sylvie (2020). Vrysaki: A Neighborhood Lost in Search of the Athenian Agora. pp. 89–106. doi:10.2972/j.ctv13qfv7x.15. S2CID 241257239. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ Frantz, Alison (1971). "The Church of the Holy Apostles". The Athenian Agora. 20 | iii–44: iii–44. doi:10.2307/3601991. JSTOR 3601991.
^ Dumont, Sylvie (2020). "Vrysaki: A Neighborhood Lost in Search of the Athenian Agora". American School of Classical Studies at Athens: 89–106. doi:10.2972/j.ctv13qfv7x.15. S2CID 241257239. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Bouras, Charalambos. Byzantine Athens. New York: Routledge, 2017.
^ "Agora Monument: Church of the Holy Apostles". American School of Classical Studies at Athens.