Listed 55 sub titles with search on: Places of worship for wider area of: "MESSINIA Prefecture PELOPONNISOS" .
AGIA SOFIA (Settlement) LEFKTRA
CHRISTIANOUPOLI (Village) FILIATRA
In terms of architecture, it is the most important Byzantine church
of Messenia. It comprises two adjoined buildings, the church and a structure to
the west. The church is of the composite, octagonal domed type, distinguished
by the careful "cloisonne" masonry, decorated with large stone crosses on the
lower sections of the walls. The facades are plain, with very poor brick and sculpture
ornaments. Few fragments of wall paintings, dated to the 12th century, are preserved
inside the church.
During the Medieval period, the church was the Cathedral of the metropolitan
bishopric of Christianoupolis, which was established at the end of the 11th century.
The building attached to the west of the church was used as an episcopal palace
and possibly as a defensive tower in the Late Byzantine period.
The monument is dated to the 11th or, most likely, to the 12th century
A.D. The monument was half-ruined and restored to its present form in 1951. Today
it functions as a parish church.
Near the site of Christianoi, the following monuments are worth visiting:
•the traditional settlement of Kyparissia with the important castle called
"Arcadia", built during the Byzantine period,
•the small churches of Analepsis (13th century), St. George Bourianon (17th
century) and Panaghia Vlacherna (first half of the 19th century) at Philiatra.
In terms of architecture it is the most important Byzantine
church of Messinia.
It includes two buildings; the church and the adjoining to it building.
The church is of the compound octagonal type and it is characterised
by carefully constructed walls (brickenclosed system with big stone crosses on
the lower part of the long walls) as well as the austerity of its appearance (limited
ceramic and sculptured decoration).
In the interior, few frescos are saved which date back to the 12th
century.
During the Byzantine Years it constitutes the cathedral of the Metropolis
Christianoupolis which was founded at the end of the 11th century and was dedicated
to the Transformation of our Saviour.
The additional structure in the west of the church was used as an
episcopal manor and probably - in the late Byzantine period(1204-1460) - as a
defensive turret.
The monument dates back to the 11th or - according to the most - the
12th century and it is used today as a church.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
ELLINOEKLISSIA (Village) ANDROUSSA
The church of Samarina of the Holy Mary the Egyptian is celebrated today in the name of the Zoedochou Pigi (Virgin Mary) and is Knowh with the popular name Samarina. It is situated near the village Ellinoklisia (=Greek Church) or Samari and was subject to the byzantine episcopacy of Androusa. As a building it dates back to the end of the 12th and the beginning of the 13th century, about 1200 A.D. according to local tradition. According to one version it was built on the ruins of an older, idolatrons temple dedicated to the goddess rea. The shape of the church itself is cross-like while its dome is decorated with bricks and supported on two pillars and on the dies of the iconostasis. The four props of the arch, which bring the dome closer to the Holy Altar, while the architectural influence on the domed hemispheres is clearly from Konstantinopole.
This extract is cited Jan 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains images.
GARGALIANI (Small town) MESSINIA
This is a historical church in the central square of Gargaliani, the foundations
of it were laid during the Venetian era in the 17th century and was completed
at the beginning of the 18th century. Makrigiannis went to Mass in this church
in 1825 before he set off for Navarino.
In the church you can still see Ibrahem's sword cuts when he ransacked the town.
KALOGERORACHI (Village) ANDROUSSA
KORONI (Small town) MESSINIA
In the lower part of the castle and on the southwest part and in a
grove consisting of pines and palm trees the church
of the miraculous Blessed Virgin Mary the Merciful is built in the place of
the «findings».
According to local tradition, an old lady, Maria Stathaki used to
have dreams of the Blessed Virgin Mary leading her to the place of the «findings».
In 1897, there was an excavation on that site where three statuettes of excellent
artistic value and expression were found; that of the Crucified, the Blessed Vergin
Mary and the Evangelist Loukas.
In the lower part of the church and in the crack of the huge rock
where the statuettes were found there is a chapel which is called «EVRESIS» (=finding)
while in the same place of the grove there is the room where the findings of the
area are exhibited as well as the bust of the bishop Gregory Bisti and the metropolitan
Daskalakis.
The church celebrates on the Friday after Easter, the Source of life,when
a host of people go there from all over Messinia and the surrounding area and
constitutes one of the most splendid religious celebrations in Messinia.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
LABENA (Village) ITHOMI
According to its engraved inscription, it was built in 1865 and signifies
an innovation as far as church architecture is concerned. This innovation was
first observed in Thessaloniki after the Hati Houmayioun Treaty was signed in
1856. Regarding its form, a square small tower with a cross on top accords with
the arch of the three-winged basilica of Ayios Geogrios, an element related to
religious beliefs as well as national ideals. Such an element favours the arrival
of neobyzantinism, which eliminates memories from the Turkish occupation and introduces
a monumental style of a symbolic nature.
This text is cited April 2003 from the
Municipality of Ithomi tourist pamphlet.
PETROVOUNI (Settlement) LEFKTRA
PLATSA (Village) LEFKTRA
This church is a three declivity basilica which was founded in the
10th century A.D.
The dome and the frescos are characterised by two technique styles
and were constructed in the mid 14th century while the frescos of the north declivity
of the church date back to the 15th century.
On the central declivity there is an inscription of dedication while
other inscriptions on other parts of the decorations are saved, as well.
On the iconostasis, sculptures of Midbyzantine years are preserved.
There is a church service once a year and nowadays there are restoration
and renovation works of the surrounding structures.
In the area of Platsa there are other Byzantine churches like St.
Paraskevi with 15th century frescoes and St. Demetrios.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below.
The church is a three-aisled basilica built in the 10th century. The
dome was added in the mid-14th century by Constantinos Spanis and at the same
time the interior was decorated with wall paintings representing two different
styles. A votive inscription is preserved in the middle aisle, and other inscriptions
are seen among the decorative elements of the walls. The wall paintings of the
north aisle date to the 15th century. Sculptures of the Middle Byzantine period
are preserved in the iconostasis.
The roof of the church has been retiled, the surrounding buildings
have been restored, and the wall paintings have been supported and cleaned.
Today the church functions only once a year.
Platsa is a traditional settlement of Messenian Mani, with many defensive
towers, harmonically combined with the exceptional natural setting. Several more
significant churches are to be seen in the village: St. Paraskevi, a cross-vaulted
church with wall paintings of the 15th century, the Byzantine church of St. Demetrios
and a few post-Byzantine churches.
This text is cited Sept 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
KALIANEIKA (Settlement) AVIA
MOUZAKI (Village) GARGALIANI
This is a country church built on the top of Ayia on the north part of Mouzaki.
On the back mountainside lies the forest of Mali, most of which belongs to the
Municipality of
Gargaliani.
KYPARISSIA (Small town) MESSINIA
Tel: +30 27610 22568
MONI DIMIOVIS (Monastery) KALAMATA
The Monastery of Dimiova is 10 km east of Kalamata on the slopes of Taygetos and was built in the 8th century by the byzantine emperor Leonda the 3rd, the Isavro. It reached its heyday in the 15th century and was destroyed in 1463 during the war between the Turks and the Eneti. The contemporary Monastery was built in the 17th century and has woodcurved reredos made in 1773 while its church was painted in fresco in 1663. The miracle icon of the Virgin Mary the Timiovitissa is in the Monastery. This icon, according to tradition, was struck by an axe on the face and bled. It is celebrated on the 15th August, when a host of visitors from Kalamata and the surrounding area visit the Monastery from the day before, in order to attend the vespers and the service.
This extract is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below.
Tel: +30 27210 23115
MONI VELANIDIAS (Monastery) KALAMATA
Tel: +30 27210 23150
MONI VOULKANOU (Monastery) ITHOMI
Tel: +30 27240 51258
The new Holy Monastery of Voulkano was founded in 1625 in the east part of Ithomi
and was restored in 1967 by the Metropolitan Chrysostomos Themelis. In the centre
of the yard there is the church in the shape of a domed cross dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin Mary the Voulkaniotissa whose name came from the miracle icon of
the Blessed Virgin Mary which according to tradition is dating back to the 14th
century and is the work of the Evangelist Loukas. The Holy Monastery is for men
only and is celebrated on the 15th August. On the day before the celebration there
is vespers and a vigil. On the 20th September the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary
is carried in a religious procession of 20 km, from the church of the Monastery
of Voulcano to the church of the Source of Life in Messini in the area of Panigyristra
where it is displayed for 9 days for people to pay their respects.
On the top of the holy mountain of Ithomi there is the Holy Altar of the old monastery of Voulkano, which was founded during the Midbyzantine Era (843-1204), according to tradition by the emperor Leonida the 3rd Isavrou in 725 A.D. In 1625, the monks of the monastery, which is also called «of the peak», built the new monastery in the area «Under the Mother of water» on the eastern slopes of Ithomi. The monastery was restored in 1967 by the Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos Themelis. The Holy Altar of the old monastery «of the peak» has been recounted in 1638 by the painters of holy icons and brothers Moschi while the Holy Altar of the church is placed on the pedestal of an ancient statue. Three of its sides bear inscriptions which are ancient and illegible. During the domination by the Turks it became a shelter for guerrilla fighters while it also contributed considerable sums of money for the Cause during the Greek Revolution.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
PETRALONA (Settlement) ITHOMI
This monastery (for men) at Petralona of Ithomi at constitutes an excellent byzantine monument which is very impressive with its turrets and fortified yard; a real castle. It was given the name Andromonastiro(=monastery for men) to distinguish it from the church of Samarina (Holy Mary the Egyptian) which was a monastery for women not 'men'. It was not Andro(niko)monastiro, built, that is, by Andronikos the 2nd the Palaeologo (1282-1328) but the main church is a building of the late 12th century, approximately 1200 A.D, while it is possible that additions (in construction) were made later on.
In the inside of the high wall of the yard there is a four pillar church, which is a magnificent sample of byzantine style with excellent byzantine frescos.
This extract is cited March 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains images.
PYRGOS (Village) GARGALIANI
Tel: +30 27630 41230
STAVROPIGIO (Village) AVIA
Tel: +30 27210 71388
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