Παλαιός Ναός Αγ. Αναργύρων

Journey back to 17th-century Athens. Imagine a small, unassuming church nestled on the northern slopes of the Acropolis. This is the Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron, also known as the Metochi of the Holy Sepulcher. It stands at the crossroads of Prytaneiou and Erechtheos streets, a place once sacred to the goddess Aphrodite. The Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron began as the catholicon of a monastery founded in 1651 by Priest Dimitrios Kolokinthis. He bequeathed his entire fortune to this monastery, initially a haven for nuns, later becoming a sanctuary for monks. The Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron itself is a single-aisled vaulted basilica, a humble structure compared to the grandeur of the Acropolis. A later addition, a steeple of white marble with classical elements, graces its roof. Ancient stones, remnants of a bygone era, are woven into its very walls. Its courtyard holds relics whispering tales of its layered past. During the Turkish occupation and the Greek War of Independence, the Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron played a vital role in the community. When the Turks laid siege to Athens in 1826, Commander Gouras positioned cannons near the church to defend the city. The church bore the scars of battle, struck by Turkish artillery, yet it miraculously survived. Years later, in Stademann’s 1835 “Panorama of Athens,” the Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron stands prominently, a testament to its resilience. Within its courtyard lie the remains of heroes. Chieftain Nicholaos Sarris, Chieftain Panagis Ktenas, Athens’ first appointed commander, and archaeologist-fighter Nicholaos Pittakis. Pittakis, a true guardian of history, saved the Acropolis from destruction during the Turkish occupation of 1821-1822. He negotiated with the Turks, who were dismantling ancient columns for ammunition, providing them with the lead they needed to spare the monument. The Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron also sheltered notable figures of Greek literature. Alexandros Papadiamandis, the renowned novelist, resided in one of its cells, and writer Alexandros Moraitinis frequented its peaceful grounds. Some even believe St. Nectarios of Aegina served here as a deacon. Today, the Palaios Naos Ag. Anargyron holds another important distinction. It is the first place in Greece to receive the Holy Light from Jerusalem each year. This tradition reinforces its spiritual significance, drawing crowds to its doors every Holy Saturday.