Athens - center of classical culture and the cradle of civilization - the most glorious monuments of ancient times. Nevertheless, the city has its own Christian history, intertwined with the legacy of the classical tradition - not by chance the most ancient of the existing Christian churches in Athens were built on the foundations of pagan temples, and some of them are directly placed in the buildings of ancient temples, such as it was the temples of the Parthenon, and Gefesteyona Eretreyona.

 

Athens - center of classical culture and the cradle of civilization - the most glorious monuments of ancient times. Nevertheless, the city has its own Christian history, intertwined with the legacy of the classical tradition - not by chance the most ancient of the existing Christian churches in Athens were built on the foundations of pagan temples, and some of them are directly placed in the buildings of ancient temples, such as it was the temples of the Parthenon, and Gefesteyona Eretreyona.

More recently, Athens gradually falling into disrepair: the centers of education finally shifted to the capital of Constantinople and Alexandria brilliant. The sad result of a centuries-old cultural tradition of Athens led the famous edict of the Emperor Justinian closed the pagan in 529 schools and colleges.

After that, Athens permanently disappear from the cultural scene in Europe, but the Christian life goes on: new monasteries and temples. Some of them have survived to our time: a small but impressive by its antiquity and architectural elegance of the Church of St.. Elevferiya, St. Theodore Church, a church with wonderful frescoes Kapnikareya, etc. Also of interest the old monastic cloister Kesariani and Daphne, Daphne particular church of the monastery and its rare mosaic - a classic example of Byzantine art in general and in particular the Byzantine mosaics. Christian antiquities lover and will not pass by the Byzantine Museum, with its small but tasteful collection of icons, mosaics and murals.