Agia Anna Ι. Ν. ΑΓΙΑΣ ΑΝΝΗΣ(St. Anne) Dioskouron St., foothills of Acropolis, Plaka
The church of Agia Anna, Plaka.
At the Plaka district, on Dioskouron Street, perpendicular to Adriannou and close to the ruins of the ancient Agora of Athens, is the small church of Agia Anna, one of the many churches the devout visitor will encounter near the foothills of the Acropolis.
The original small 6 x 6 m (18 ft x 18 ft) one-aisle, vaulted orthodox chapel which, as in most cases, was built on the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the Gods Artemis and Apollo during the Turkish occupation of Greece, and is mentioned in descriptions of travelers of the 17th c. The church, which was in ruins, was renovated with the toil and expenses of Mme Athena Polygenous, as mentioned by the inscription on its façade.
The church celebrates on December 9th.
The roof of Agia Anna after the restoration.
The roof of Agia Anna before the restoration.
Saint Anne (also known as Ann or Anna) of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ, according to apocryphal Christian tradition. In the Orthodox Church she is revered as Hannah. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Hannah is ascribed the title Forbear of God, and both the Birth of Mary and the Dedication of Mary to the Temple are celebrated as two of the Twelve Great Feasts. The Dormition of Hannah is also a minor feast in the Eastern Church.
