Explore Kapnikarea church

The Holy Virgin Church in Kapnikarea is one of Athens' oldest Byzantine churches. On the site of an earlier shrine that had been built by Eudokia of Athens, the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II, it is thought that it was constructed around 1050. It is an Orthodox church and is situated on Ermou Street, the busiest and most commercial street in the old district of the Greek city. Kapnikarea was built over an ancient Greek pagan temple, most likely dedicated to Demeter or Athena, as was common with early Christian churches.

The church amazes by itself. At least, by the incredible atmosphere that you feel as soon as you cross the threshold of the shrine. The light from the small windows reflects on the holy faces, and they seem to begin to shimmer. In addition, the abundance of stone makes the interior inscrutable and majestic. You just admire how this mysterious quiet place shares a neighborhood with one of the noisiest streets in Athens. The colorful iconography in the interior is recent and was composed by the painter Photis Kontoglou in the mid-20th century, but there’s also older decoration in the church’s friezes and the sculpted column capitals inside.

Opening hours: from 10:00 am to 18:00 pm

Entrance fee: free