Description of the attraction
The Church of the Holy Apostles, also known as the Church of the Holy Apostles Solakis or Agii Apostoli, is located in the Ancient Agora in Athens. This Byzantine church was built in the 10th century and is one of the oldest Christian churches in Athens.
Perhaps the name "Solakis" comes from the name of the patrons who helped restore the temple, or from "Solaki" - this was the name of the densely populated area around the church in the 19th century. The Church of the Holy Apostles is of particular importance, as it is the only monument in the Athenian Agora, except for the temple of Hephaestus, which has been completely preserved in its original form to this day.
This is the first significant church of the Byzantine period in Athens, marking the beginning of the construction of the so-called "Athenian type" temples (a cross-domed temple using four columns). The Church of the Holy Apostles was built on the ruins of a 2nd century Roman temple dedicated to nymphs (nympheon), although its eastern side stands on the foundations of an ordinary residential building, which was most likely demolished specifically for the construction of the temple. The location for the church was not chosen by chance. It is this place that is considered key both in the classical era and in the Byzantine era. The church is located on the western side of the Panathenaean Way and near the defensive wall, which was important in the defense of the city from invasions.
The original plan of the church is a cruciform building with four columns that support the dome. The four ends of the "cross" are semicircular niches with small shells in between. The church also has several arches, one of which was later expanded to accommodate a sarcophagus. Most likely, the tomb was intended for the patron of this church, who, according to the Byzantine tradition, had the right to be buried in the temple, however, like his relatives. The altar and floor of the church are made of marble. The tiles on the outer walls are decorated with decorative Kufic designs. Today, the interior of the temple is also decorated with post-Byzantine frescoes, which were brought from the destroyed church of St. Spyridon, which was located nearby.
In the middle of the 20th century, a large-scale restoration of the building was carried out, and today the Church of the Holy Apostles appears before us in its original form.
