Thessaloniki Church of Profitis Elias

Location: Old Town Ano Poli

The Church of Profitis Elias is located in Ano Poli, the Old Town of Thessaloniki. It was constructed in the mid to late 14th century, on the site of an older palace destroyed by the Zealots in 1342. It has been previously identified as the katholikon of the Nea Makri Monastery, although further evidence suggests that it might have been the dependency of the Akapniou Monastery.

The church bears a unique four-columned, cross-in-square design, commonly referred to as the Athonite type. Its architecture is characteristic of the Palaeologan period in Thessaloniki (1261 - 1453), with influences from Constantinopolitan architecture. Its exterior presents exquisite masonry, with alternating courses of bricks and white stones.

The interior of the church is dominated by its beautiful frescoes, most of which date to the late 14th century. The mural on the temple depicts the infancy and miracles of Jesus Christ, along with various saints and other holy figures. Although some of the paintings have been well-preserved, others have been worn down over time. They all, however, retain their vibrant character and present wonderful examples of late Palaeologan art.

Because of its historical and religious significance, the church has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the 15 Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki that were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.