top of page
Church of Hagios Georgios “Omorphokklisia”
Church of Hagios Georgios “Omorphokklisi

A Byzantine church dedicated to St. George is located on the urban sprawl of Northern Athens. Originally it would have been located in the open country when it was built perhaps in the 12th century. It is not generally called “Omorphokklisia” – beautiful church.
The building began as an inscribed cross, single apse church with the dome supported by four piers; it is built in cloisonné masonry with restrained dog-tooth brick courses round windows, and with small carved marble fragments in the eastern end. Its main architectural interest lies in the chapel that was at some point built on to the southern side; this gave it a second apse. From its external masonry one would think that this was not later than the 12th century, but its internal construction makes use of two rib vaults — said to be the only example in Attica, and among the very few surviving in Greece. This has been taken to mean that the chapel must be 13th century, due to the builder's apparent knowledge of Western systems, though this is not universally accepted. Only the narthex, which is probably 16th century, is now thought to be later than the mid-12th century. 
The interior has some of its original masonry templon and frescoes. The frescoes are mostly from the late 13th/early 14th century and although not in good condition show some lively scenes which include the Entry into Jerusalem and the Annunciation to Anna, with the Koimisis on the western wall. There is a depiction of the Pantokrator in the dome, while in the parekklision there is a fresco of the Mission of the Apostles and the Last Supper. 

 Page under construction 

Sources 

Byzantine and Medieval Greece: Churches, Castles and Art of the Mainland and the Peloponnese by P. Hetherington

Hagios Georgios Omorphoklessia (Byzantine Monuments of Attica)

​

Resources 

Church of Agios Georgios Omorfokklisia (Religious Greece)

logo2.png
download.png
bottom of page