http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Apostles,_Athens

The Church of the Holy Apostles, also known as 
Holy Apostles of Solaki or Agii Apostoli, is 
located in the Ancient Agora of Athens, Greece, 
and can be dated to around the late 10th century.

The church is particularly significant as the only 
monument in the Agora, other than the Temple of 
Hephaestus, to survive intact since its foundation, 
and for its architecture: it was the first significant 
church of the middle Byzantine period in Athens, 
and marks the beginning of the so-called "Athenian 
type", successfully combining the simple four-pier 
with the cross-in-square forms. The church was 
built partly over a 2nd-century nymphaion, and 
was restored to its original form between 1954 
and 1957.

From evidence of various repairs and reconstructions, 
four distinct building phases can be distinguished. 
The original floorplan is a cross with apses on four 
sides and a narthex on the west side, with four 
columns supporting a dome. The altar and floor 
were originally of marble. Tiles on the outer walls 
have Kufic-like decorative patterns.

A few surviving wall paintings in the central aisle 
date to the 17th century, and paintings from nearby 
churches were also placed elsewhere within the church.

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http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-agii-apostoli-church

Dating from the late 10th century, Agii Apostoli 
(Holy Apostles) Church in the Ancient Agora of 
Athens played a significant role in the development 
of Byzantine architecture.

History of Agii Apostoli Church

This site originally hosted a 2nd-century Nymphaeum, 
a monument honoring the nymphs that usually included 
a fountain. The Church of the Holy Apostles was built 
on its foundations in the last quarter of the 10th 
century, to cater to the expanding community in this 
part of the city. It was the beginning of a period 
of prosperity in Athens that lasted until the conquest 
of the Franks in 1201.

The church was slightly expanded during three more 
building phases: the first added square niches at 
either end of the narthex; the second expanded the 
narthex to the west; and the third removed the narthex 
supports to create a longer nave.

Agii Apostoli suffered damage during the war over 
Athens between the Ottomans and Venetians around 
1687 and it was repaired in the 18th century.

Extensive restoration work was carried out in 1876-82, 
which unfortunately included unattractive extensions 
that altered the church's original form. These 
alterations were reversed during a restoration and 
excavation project carried out between February 1954 
and September 1956. The present form of the church 
is close to that of the 10th-century original.

What to See at Agii Apostoli Church

The church is built on the plan of a Greek cross 
(a cross with equal arms), with a narthex on the west 
side. Each arm ends in a semi-circular niche (or apse) 
and smaller niches are placed on either side of each 
apse. A dome rests on four pillars in the central 
crossing; it is the oldest example of the "Athenian 
type" of Byzantine dome in the city.

The church contributed to the development of 
Byzantine architecture by its successful 
combination of a central plan with a cross-in-square 
design.

The facade of the west narthex is decorated with 
brick Kufic patterns, which were restored in the 
20th century based on similar examples. The three 
entrance portals are topped with round tympana 
with punched star designs.

A Byzantine sarcophagus found nearby has been 
placed inside the church and burials were discovered 
beneath the floor of the nave and narthex. There are 
fragments of frescoes throughout the church, most of 
which are from the 17th or 18th century and considered 
of mediocre quality. Other wall paintings found in 
the vicinity have been posted inside the church as well.

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Traveler's comments & pictures

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http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtsagora10.htm

Info.

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http://www.mesogeia.net/athens/places/byzantineathens/holyapostoles_en.html

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http://www.agathe.gr/overview/the_church_of_the_holy_apostles.html

The Church of the Holy Apostles

Though several churches were removed in the clearing 
of the site for excavation, it was decided to save and 
restore the little Byzantine church dedicated to the Holy Apostles.

Holy Apostles.tif
View of the restored Church of the Holy Apostles from the southwest, April 2006

The church, with an unusual tetraconch interior 
plan and decorative tilework on the exterior, is 
among the oldest in Athens, probably to be dated 
just before A.D. 1000. It was surely the focal point 
of an extensive neighborhood in the Byzantine period, 
the remains of which were recorded and removed in 
the course of the excavations. The eastern half of 
the church was relatively untouched, but several 
additions, the latest dating to the late 19th century, 
had damaged and obscured the western end. After 
excavation, these later additions were removed 
and the church restored to its original form. 
The work was funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation 
and supervised by Alison Frantz. With the Stoa of 
Attalos, this reconstruction was completed and 
dedicated in 1956. The festival of the Twelve 
Apostles is still celebrated at the church every June 30th.

68_apostlesPlan_p44.tif
Restored plan of the original layout of the church, showing its unusual tetraconch design. Drawing by W.B.D. Jr.

“On February 12, 1954, the Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Education approved the request for permission to demolish the modern addition to the Church of the Holy Apostles, with a view to restoring the church in its original form. On February 22 two workmen began stripping the plaster from the walls to determine the extent of the original walls. Good Byzantine masonry, similar to that of the eastern part of the church was exposed on the lower part of the north wall as far as the door and bell tower. The original length of this wall is so far unclear. The south wall seems to have suffered at least one major destruction, and from a point ca. 2 m. west of the southern apse little original masonry remains above the lower course. There is so far no trace of early work west of the door on either side” (Nb. HA I, p. 2).

LXVII-24002.tif
View of the Church of the Holy Apostles from the southwest, August 1954, after demolition of the later additions had been completed

1997.16.0254.tif
Interior of the church before the start of the restoration project, March 2, 1954. Before the restoration began the floor was removed and excavations were carried out to determine the church’s history.

The structural elements of the church—the walls, columns, and vaulting—had been restored by late summer of 1955. Still much work had to be done before the dedication ceremony, planned to coincide with that of the Stoa of Attalos on September 3, 1956. The roof of the narthex was built, the interior walls plastered, the marble floor paving laid, the original marble elements of the windows were either restored or modern copies of designs contemporary to the building were set, the surviving frescoes were conserved and installation of frescoes removed from the Church of Aghios (Saint) Spyridon and Aghios Giorgios were installed in the new narthex.

1997.16.0166.tif
Building the centering for the vaults of the central saucer dome and completing the ribbing, February 21, 1955

1997.16.0223.tif
Theophanes Nomikos carving the marble lunette for the central doorway, March 8, 1956. The interior walls have been plastered; the southern window of the narthex restored; frescoes have been installed.

1997.16.0249.tif
View from the narthex into the interior, December 1955. Frescoes from the Church of Aghios Spyridon were reset in the walls of the restored narthex. The fresco of Saint Spyridon was set on the left side of the central door leading into the interior and the fresco of Saint Anthony was set on the right side.

Ptg. 317.tif
Watercolors of Saint Spyridon and Saint Anthony by Piet de Jong made before the frescos were removed from the chapel of Aghios Spyridon, in the 1930s. Piet de Jong, an extraordinary archaeological illustrator, joined the staff of the Agora Excavations in 1932. The two watercolors represent just a tiny fraction of the work he left behind. They also illustrate the remarkable talent he had of coaxing details and colors from the object he was illustrating that the casual observer would most likely ignore.

2004.01.0562.tif
View of the northwest corner of the church after restoration, September 1956