Feb 11, 2025

Hypapante church Thessaloniki

An unknown treasury

"The iconostasis is just incredible! Pay attention to the dragons beneath the Cross on the top, they allude to the story of Prophet Jonah..."

Opposite the famous Arch of Galerius, in the eastmost part of the historic center of Thessaloniki, stands a little church that perhaps a few are attracted to. It is dedicated to “Hypapante”, i.e., the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, a feast that is commonly known in the West as Candlemas (February 2). It is also Orthodox Mother’s Day.

The current building is a product of a radical renovation that happened in 1841. However, the church is mentioned in the written sources as early as the beginning of the 16th c. It belonged to a monastery. The interior is adorned with astonishing icons of the 16th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The iconostasis is just incredible! Pay attention to the dragons beneath the Cross on the top. They allude to the story of Prophet Jonah, who remained for three days within a marine beast. That prefigures the Resurrection of Christ. On the lowest register, you can see a number of edifices within roundels, which, in my opinion, allude to Venetian architecture. A must-see masterpiece!

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Art & culture

About this spot

Egnatia 148

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