“A gift from Queen Olga.” That’s what the tall belfry of Agios Georgios Church once was to the Athenian people. Today we stand before Agios Georgios Church. It is a landmark with a rich history. Researchers think the chapel of Prophet Eli stood here before. It fell into disrepair before Agios Georgios Church was built.
Marble inscriptions show a small cemetery was once here. An inscription indicates the chapel was established by the Metropolitan of Athens Benedict. This happened between 1782 and 1785. While walking through the trees, you will find two chapels near Agios Georgios. One is dedicated to Prophet Eli. The other is to St. Constantine. Both were built around 1885.
The difficulty of climbing the hill caused these structures to be abandoned. They fell into disrepair. But in 1834, an adventurous monk named Emmanuel Louloudakis climbed Lycabettus Hill. He cleared the rubble and rebuilt the chapel of Prophet Eli. He dedicated it to Saint George.
Monk Emmanuel never came down from his climb. Friends thought he was dead. Three years later, some Athenians saw lights on top of the hill. They climbed up to find the source. They found the holy man had created a small paradise. It had a garden and patio. Locals donated money for a road. The chapel began to receive visitors. This was especially true during Easter time. Easter is close to the day Saint George is celebrated.
After his death in 1885, Friar Emmanuel was buried near his chapel. Some say miracles have occurred in the Church of Agios Georgios. Near Agios Georgios Church, there is a top-notch restaurant and cafeteria. It is worth having lunch or a drink. Enjoy the magnificent view at night.
The church of Agios Georgios Karytsis is a reference point. It is in the historical center of Athens. It is behind Stadiou Street. It is in the center of the small square. The square shares the same name. It is surrounded by buildings related to intellectual and artistic life. Its foundation was in the 11th century. It belonged to the Athenian family of Karytsis or Karykis. During the Greek Revolution in 1821, it suffered significant damage. It was almost in ruins by the end of the Revolution. But it continued to be used. Athenians chose a delegation in this church. The delegation was to greet King Othon in Nafplion. The bad condition of the church led the parishioners to hire architect Lysandros Kaftantzoglou. He had reconstructed the church of Agia Eirini. The church was reconstructed between 1845 and 1849. It is slightly less Byzantine in style. It has fewer western influences than other churches by the same architect.
The church follows the style of a three-aisle basilica with a dome. An interesting variation is the central gate of grey marble. It is crowned by a white steeple. For the construction of the church, materials were used from the cemetery. The cemetery was in the area during antiquity and the Byzantine Period. In 1849, the dome partly collapsed. Supports were then added to the side walls. In 1895, the magnificent screen was made. Then the archieratic throne was added in 1901. These were works of Ioannis Magiasis. Important painters contributed to the wall paintings. These painters included Polychronis Lembesis, Dimos Georgantas and Dimitrios Pelekasis. A noteworthy detail is the oil painting of the parable of the blind. It is on the northern wall near the sanctuary. It is the work of Alexander Philadelpheus. He was curator of antiquities and director of important museums.
Agios Georgios on Mount Lycabettus is a 19th-century whitewashed church. It sits on top of Mount Lycabettus. It offers a view of Athens below. According to myth, Mount Lycabettus was a rock. Athena dropped it. She was going to use it to build the Acropolis. A raven told her bad news. She dropped it. Another story says Lycabettus was once inhabited by wolves.
This is the tallest point in Athens at 277 meters. It is a dramatic limestone outcrop covered in pine trees. It is an iconic landmark. At night, it is one of the few that can be seen lit up. The whitewashed church dates from the 19th century. It is accessible via 133 stairs. It was first used for worship by the Cretan monk Emmanuel Louloudakis. He lived in the hermit cell next door. The church is on the same spot where a Byzantine Church once stood. Before that, there was a temple dedicated to Zeus.
Lycabettus offers the best view of the capital. As you walk up the steep path, the landscape opens around you. White buildings pour down into the basin of the city. The Aegean expands into the horizon. There is a viewing platform outside the church. There is also the chi-chi Orizontes Restaurant. An outdoor theatre was constructed out of an old quarry in 1964. It has housed many musical performances. Sometimes, you can hear monks singing in the church.