Ιερός Ναός της Θεοτόκου Γοργοεπήκοου και Αγίου Ελευθερίου

 Греция > Attica > Regional Unit of Central Athens > Athens

---

Church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos (Lesser Metropolis, Church of St. Eleutherius) Lesser Metropolis is an ancient Christian church built in the 4th century. His patrons are the Mother of God “Hasty Assistant” (Panagia Gorgoepikoos) and the Greek saint Agios Eleutherius, who patronize women in labor. It is interesting that in the place of this temple there used to be a pagan temple of the goddess Ilithia - the goddess of women in childbirth. The church was built from tombstones, blocks, bas-reliefs and other available raw materials that were at hand. The existence of a pagan sanctuary on the site of the temple is evidenced by many images of nudes inside the temple. Crosses are visible near the figures, which are a kind of consecration of the temple. The cross-domed temple is located in the oldest part of the city, on Mitropoléos Square. The construction waste on the left and in front of the church is from the construction of the Cathedral (from the left, behind the scenes).