Think of bones. Not just any bones but those that sparked a religious and social whirlwind in 19th-century Athens. We are standing before the Church of Saint Panteleimon of Acharnai. It is a testament to faith, scandal, and the enduring power of a good story.
Saint Panteleimon is not just any church. It is the largest in Athens. Some even say it’s among the largest in the Balkans. The church stands tall on Acharnon Avenue. Its location marks the spot of a smaller, former church dedicated to Saint Panteleimon.
Our story begins with Nezo Petsotou. She was a woman with a flair for the dramatic. After the death of her son, Pantelis, she claimed his bones were miraculous. This claim caused an uproar. The church intervened. They considered her actions scandalous.
Nezo was ordered to live as a nun in a monastery. However, she continued her activities. She caused such a stir that a court order demanded the bones be taken from her. Enter Anastasios Eulampios. He was a tenant who felt pity for Nezo. He established a chapel in the garden dedicated to Saint Panteleimon. This chapel became a place for Nezo’s ascetic works.
But peace was not to last. A rift occurred between Eulampios and Nezo. He expelled her. The press even reported the expulsion was violent. Soon after, Eulampios and his wife were robbed. Some connected this to Nezo’s expulsion.
Despite the controversy, Nezo published a service of praise to Saint Panteleimon. The Church responded harshly. They repudiated the pamphlet. They asked the government to confiscate it. Yet, the temple remained. It stood where Acharnon and Agorakritou roads meet.
King George I laid the foundations for the modern church in 1910. Consecration followed in 1930. Construction, however, continued. It only finished in 1980. The church’s interior iconography is the work of Iannis Karoussos. He began in 1984. It took him 23 years to complete.
The Church of Saint Panteleimon has a capacity of 10,000 people. Its dome rivals that of Hagia Sophia. Measuring 63 meters long and 48 meters wide, Saint Panteleimon stands as one of the most active parishes in Athens. It is a lasting symbol of faith. Saint Panteleimon is a reminder of a scandalous past.