Panagia Ekatontapyliani
| Panagia Ekatontapyliani | ||
|---|---|---|
 Panagia Ekatontapyliani |
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| Data | ||
| place | Parikia , Paros | |
| Construction year | 7th / 8th Century? | |
| Coordinates | 37 ° 5 '6 " N , 25 ° 9' 7" E | |
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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 the Marian pilgrimage in the Aegean Sea , second only to the famous pilgrimage basilica on the nearby island of Tinos .
history
According to the legend , the church was founded by Helena , mother of the Roman emperor Constantine , when she stopped on the island during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land . According to tradition, it was built by Isidorus , one of the architects of Hagia Sofia , during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian . The complex was badly damaged by an earthquake in the 18th century, but has been gradually restored.
The origin of the church name is unclear, as the building does not have a hundred doors or gates. One theory suggests that it could be a corruption of the name Katapoliani , which can be roughly translated as "the one facing the city" and describes the location of the complex in front of the old town of Parikia.
The first church buildings at this location are proven as early as the 4th century AD. After parts of the previous buildings were destroyed - possibly by fire - the church was rebuilt in its present-day form during the reign of Justinian II .
description
The complex consists of the main church, two additional chapels and a baptistery with a cross-shaped baptismal font .
A special feature is the marble baptismal font in the former baptistery. In the complex church space there are small chapels, which are dedicated to the two saints Cosmas and Damianos and the local saint of the island, St. Theoktisti .
literature
- Harry Herbert Jewell, Frederick William Hasluck : The Church of Our Lady of the Hundred Gates (Panagia Hekatontapyliani) in Paros. London 1920.
- Theologos Chr. Aliprantis: Hē Ekatontapylianē tēs Paru. Thessaloniki 1993.
- Panayotis I. Patellis: A guide through Ekatontapyliani. Paros 2012.
