Athens - Panagia Kapnikarea

Athens, the southernmost capital on the European mainland, is one of the world's oldest cities, with its recorded history spanning over 3,400 years. According to Greek mythology the city was named after Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. Classical Athens was one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece. It was a centre for democracy, the arts, education and philosophy, and was highly influential throughout the European continent, particularly in Ancient Rome. For this reason it is often regarded as the cradle of Western civilisation and the birthplace of democracy.

The church of Panagia Kapnikarea is located in the center of the modern city of Athens, right in the middle of the shopping area.

It is estimated that the church was built around 1050. As it was common with the early Christian churches, this was built over an ancient Greek temple. When (Bavarian born) King Otto I, King of Greece, brought an Bavarian architect to draw the new city plan of Athens, the church was considered for demolition. It was Otto´s father, King of Bavaria, Ludwig I who objected the decision and saved the church.

An earthquake in 1981 weakened the structural integrity of the building. Another earthquake in Athens in 1999, caused cracks in the tower of the church. During the drilling of the tunnel for the Athens Metro, fractures occurred in the southern and northeastern part of the floor of the Kapnikarea. Since April 2003, the subway has run 17 m below the church every day.

The Kapnikarea church may have once been the katholikon of a monastery. Presently, the building is formed by a complex of three different units attached together. These units were built in succession There is the south church dedicated to the Presentation of Mary to the Temple, the chapel of St Barbara on the northern side and the exonarthex with the propylon to the west.

The oldest, south church is a domed complex, cross-in-square.