On the pedestrian part of Aiolou street, at the center of Athens, next to the impressive church of Panagia Chrysospiliotissa is the small picturesque church of Agia Paraskevi. It was constructed during the Turkish occupation of Greece and according to written testimonies initially it was a chapel of the church of Panagia Chrysospiliotissa. In 1762 it was given to the Monastery of Ossios Meletios Kithairona and then it became its Metochi, mainly due to the fact that the monks of the monastery needed a place to stay, when they had to spend the night in Athens. From 1883 to 1928 it became part, together with the Monastery of Ossios Meletios, of the Monastery of Faneromeni in Salamina, and for this reason it was called the “Aeginitiko Metochi”. Today it belongs again to the Monastery of Ossios Meletios. Architecturally, it follows the type of one-aisle vaulted basilica and on the northern side a small aisle has been added, where they have constructed a representation of the hideous Calvary. The wall paintings that decorate its interior date from 1930.
The holy and glorious Virgin-MartyrAgiaParaskevi, known as the Parthenomartyr, was was born near Rome during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD). She obtained an excellent education from both secular and Scriptural instructors and was very knowledgeable in philosophy. She was arrested during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (r. A.D. 138-161) under the penalty of refusing to worship idols and adhering to the state pagan religion. After enduring many tortures, she was eventually released by the emperor, continuing to profess Christ. She was eventually tortured and beheaded by the Roman governor Tarasius in the year 180. The Church commemorates her on July 26.
