By Nicolas Bard

If you visit the Pieria And wander in his straits, you will surely pass in front of her picturesque chapel Solomonwhich, although small in size, “carries” a long story.

The temple was built during the Turkish occupation (1504) and its original height was smaller than today’s, and it also operated as Hidden school. Inside, unique frescoes are preserved, as well as the shell of a sea turtle, which make it one of the most particularly religious monuments in the area. In fact, as early as 1992, by decision of the Ministry of Culture it has been declared a history and a history and preserved monument.

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But what story is behind the sea turtle’s shell, located in a Narthex showcase?

Entering the church, what is sparking the eyes of the faithful is the shell located on the north side of the narthex. Tradition says that this cavity was donated to the Temple by a Litochorite Navy, who in this way wanted to thank the Holy Solomon for the blessing and protection he offered him in a difficult phase of his life. Since then the shell has been closely linked to the Church and the Holy Solomon, and there were many mothers who placed their babies in it to get the blessing of the saint, but also served as a swing. Over time, and as expected, the shell began to wear out and was placed in a showcase, being an integral part of the temple.

This small chapel was a metochi of the Monastery of St. Dionysius in Olympus and was originally built in memory of St. Nicholas in Veninine, a Saint who is particularly worshiped in Thessaly, which also testifies to the frescoes in the lintel of the entrance of the main temple. For unknown reasons and chronology to date, it was renamed a chapel of St. Solomon, Saint of the Old Testament and the protector of the children, as well as she herself. The frescoes preserved inside the temple date back to the 16th to 17th century, and reveal the age of the building. Unfortunately, the relentless passage of time has caused great damage to the frescoes and some places have been completely lost.
Saint Solomon was Judea and was killed with her seven sons, the seven Maccabees, during the persecutions of the Jews in 168 BC. By the King of Syria, Antiochus, when they refused to trample on the mosaic law and eat the banned foods (pork meats) offered them. It was preceded by the martyred death of their 90 -year -old teacher, Eleazaros, who applied the law he had given them, resulting in Antiochus on fire.

Saint Solomon is celebrated every year on August 1st and a large number of believers flock to her little chapel in Litochoro, to pray and receive her blessing.