Holy Church of Saint Demetrius, Thessaloniki

Plan Your Trip Ltd

All object (0)

See objects on map (0)

The Holy Church of Saint Demetrius is a Byzantine church in Thessaloniki, Greece, dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of the city.

The Church of Saint Demetrios dates back to the 4th century and has since been partially destroyed and rebuilt several times.

Hagio Demetrios had a chequered history before arriving at the state in which you see it today. From a small church at the beginning of the fourth century, it became a three-aisled basilica then a five-aisled basilica between 629 and 634. The church was also converted to a mosque, under the reign of Bayezid II, named Kasımiye Camii after the local Ottoman mayor, Cezeri Kasım Pasha. This Church has been partially destroyed by many fires, the last one being the Great Fire of 1917. Decades later, the church was restored using Tombstones from the city’s Jewish cemetery, which were destroyed by the Greek and Nazi German authorities..

This church is best known for its six mosaic panels, which date back to the inauguration of Byzantine Iconoclasm in 730.. It also has a very rare shrine called a ciborium, which is a canopy that stands over an altar in a basilica. It’s a hexagonal roofed structure that is made from or covered by silver. It is unusual as it doesn’t hold any physical relics of the saint. It is purely symbolic.

Inside the church’s crypt don’t miss the artifacts discovered during excavations carried out in the 1930s and 1940s. These archaeological excavations include the remains of a Roman bath, which is believed to be where St. Demetrius was imprisoned and executed. Additionally a Roman well was discovered which is said to be where soldiers disposed of St. Demetrius's body after his execution.