Thessaloniki Church of Agia Aikaterini

Location: Old Town Ano Poli

The church of Agia Aikaterini (Saint Catherine) is located in the northwestern part of Ano Polis, close to the church of Profitis Ilias. Since 1988, it has been included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, thanks to its architecture, Christian art, and overall history.

This building is formed by four arches on which the central dome rests, inscribed in a square cross. Around the square base of the dome, a lowered nave is developed in three directions; south, north and west.

Originally, the church was not dedicated to Agia Aikaterini, but probably to Jesus Christ. After the city’s liberation in 1912, the church became a place of Christian worship again. Since then, it has been associated with Agia Aikaterini and bears her name, even though the reason behind that remains unknown.

The church had undergone several changes, especially due to its conversion into a mosque during the reign of Bayezid II (1481-1511). A minaret was added around that time but was demolished after 1912. Many of the modifications and interventions were restored in 1946.

Frescoes that visitors can still admire include depictions of God’s miracles, the Candlemas, the Nativity, the Pentecost, the Hierarchs, the Communion of Apostles, prophets, and angels. Their colors and dynamic free-form figures give an image of early 14th-century art.