Churches of Thessaloniki: Panagia Archiropiitos

September 2019

Panagia (Mary) Archiropiitos might be named after a icon of Panagia Hodegetria said to have miraculously appeared.  Archiropiitos means ‘not made by hands.’   The church dates from the 5th century.   It is a basilica, meaning it has a center aisle flanked by a side aisle on each side (some basilicas have two side aisles on each side).   The current entrance has three arches.  The ionian capitals are exquisite as are the green marbles.  Fire damaged frescoes depict the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste.

 

 

 

 

Photos by Peg: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avove: mosaics in the arches between the church’s 24 columns