Byzantine Churches in Greece

What is a Byzantine Church? A Byzantine Church is a Christian church celebrating the life of Christ during a one thousand year period when the emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople. The term Byzantine was never used until after the fall of the Roman Empire, which was filled with Catholic churches. Throughout those thousand years, many churches large and small were built all over the Roman Empire. Since Constantinople was on the eastern border of modern Greece, that region has one of the most extensive and beautiful selections of churches from that period of history.

New Testament cities that Paul, Barnabas, Timothy and Luke visited are sprinkled throughout the region. Cruising by the coast of Greece from any sea, you will find a steeple with a cross in nearly every village. Many of the major cities have multiple Byzantine churches. Thessoloniki is said to have the finest churches, not only in Greece, but in the entire world. Grand mosaics and frescoes can be found in most of these historic temples. On the island of Crete, the tiny Chapel at Krista has world-famous mosaics for every familiar Biblical account that are well worth seeking out.

Religions run deep in Greece, and its capital city of Athens would not be left out of the stir during the Byzantine Era. Many churches and cathedrals dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries can be found. Often built in strange places, many incorporate ancient Roman and Ionian ruins. History is alive in these Byzantine churches of Greece.