Hypapante church Thessaloniki

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 16^th c. It belonged to a monastery. The interior is adorned with astonishing icons of the 16^th, 18^th, and 19^th 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!