Church of Saint Panteleimon

Thessaloniki, Greece

The Church of Saint Panteleimon is a late Byzantine church in Thessaloniki and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The church lies in the eastern part of the old city, near the Tomb of Galerius, at the junction of Iasonidou and Arrianou streets. Its current dedication to Saint Panteleimon was given to the church after the end of Ottoman rule in 1912, and its original dedication is therefore disputed. In Ottoman times, it was converted into a mosque in 1548 and became known as Ishakiye Camii, which in the prevailing scholarly interpretation points to an identification with the late Byzantine Monastery of the Virgin Peribleptos, also known as the Monastery of Kyr Isaac after its founder Jacob, who was the city's metropolitan bishop in 1295–1315 and became a monk with the monastic name of Isaac.

A counter-argument however supports the theory that the present church is unrelated to the Peribleptos Monastery, and that it was converted into a mosque ca. 1500, when the city's kadı (judge), was Ishak Çelebi, whom the mosque was named after. However, the church's architecture and decoration, which date to the late 13th/early 14th centuries, appear to support the former view.

The church is of the tetrastyle cross-in-square type, with a narthex and a (now destroyed) ambulatory that is connected to two chapels (still extant). Very few of the building's original wall paintings survive. Ottoman remains include the base of the demolished minaret and a marble fountain.

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Address

Agiou Panteleimonos 1, Thessaloniki, Greece
See all sites in Thessaloniki

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Religious sites in Greece

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


White Tower of Thessaloniki (0,8 km)
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki (0,9 km)
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda (0,1 km)
Hagios Demetrios (0,7 km)
Church of the Saviour (0,1 km)
Church of Panagia Chalkeon (0,8 km)
Bey Hamam (0,6 km)
Museum of Byzantine Culture (1,1 km)
Hagia Sophia (0,4 km)


The Macedonian Tomb (20,2 km)

User Reviews

Aleksandar Milincic (11 months ago)
Beautiful small church. One of many you should visit and feel the ancient Byzantine times in the wonderfull city Thessaloniki. Recommend!
Jivko Velev (16 months ago)
Nice small church next to Egnatia street.
O Toptip (16 months ago)
A beautiful small church ! They not allow to take pictures inside. It is quite old so the painting on the wall is not so clear.
Eugene Eremchenko (17 months ago)
Small, but beautiful Orthodox Church near Aristotle University
Sofia Eulgem (18 months ago)
Small in size church close to Rotunda and the arch of Galerius. An unearthly touch created by radians of natural light shining in front of the temple make the visitor feel closer to the creator. The church is of the tetrastyle cross-in-square type, with a narthex and a (now destroyed) ambulatory that is connected to two chapels (still extant).
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