Agia Kyriaki
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The church of Agia Kyriaki, Athens
This small church,
only 11 x 3,50 meters,
was built during the centuries of the
Turkish occupation of Greece.
According to the legend,
it was the cemetery church
of a burial ground that was situated
between its location and that of
Panagia Pantanassa,
in Monastiraki.
For a page with Basic Architectural Terminology, including terms used in the description of the ancient Greek temples and the Orthodox churches of Athens, click here!
The church of Agia Kyriaki, Athens
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The church of Agia Kyriaki, Athens
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Saint Kyriaki, the Great Martyr, is a Christian saint, who martyred under the emperor Diocletian. Kyriaki was born in Nicomedia to wealthy Greek parents who were devout Christians but childless. Unceasing in prayer they obtained a child and since she was born on Sunday, the Lord's Day, she was given the name Kyriaki, the Greek word for Sunday.
From her childhood, Kyriaki consecrated herself to God. As she was a beautiful young woman, many suitors asked for her hand in marriage. Among them, a magistrate of Nicomedia who wished to betroth her to his son, but when she rejected his proposal, he denounced Kyriaki and her parents as Christians to Emperor Diocletian who subsequently ordered the family to be arrested and upon their refusal to honor the pagan gods, he had them tortured and eventually exiled. Following several tortures and severe cruelty, St. Kyriaki died. At the time of her death, she was 21 years old. Her feast day is celebrated on July 7th by the Orthodox Church. |
