TheChurch of Panagia Kapnikarea (Greek:Εκκλησία της Παναγίας Καπνικαρέας) or justKapnikarea (Greek: Καπνικαρέα) is aGreek Orthodox church and one of the oldest continuously in use churches inAthens.
It is estimated that the church was built some time in the 11th century, perhaps around 1050. As it was common with the earlier Christian churches, this was built over an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the worship of a goddess, possiblyAthena orDemeter. When KingOtto I, King of theKingdom of Greece, brought theBavarian architectLeo von Klenze to draw the new city plan ofAthens, the church was considered for demolition and it was theKing of Bavaria,Ludwig I who objected the decision and saved the church.[1]
It appears that the Kapnikarea church may have originally been thekatholikon of a monastery. Presently, the building is formed by a complex of three different units attached together; these units were built in succession: a) the largest south church dedicated to the Presentation of Mary to the Temple, b) the chapel of St Barbara on the northern side; and c) theexonarthex with thepropylon to the west.
The larger of the two churches, the south one, is a domed complex, cross-in-square, has been dated (on the basis of morphological criteria) to just after the middle of the 11th century.[2]
The church is located in the center of the modern city of Athens, right in the middle of the high-traffic shopping area ofErmou street, at the edge of thePlaka district.
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