By Nicolas Bard

In the capital of Paros, Parikia, and a short distance from the central port of the island is Panagia the Ekatontapyliani, also known as Our Lady of Katapoliani. It is one of the most important and best preserved Early Christian monuments of the whole Greek territory and the largest in size!

According to tradition, the original building of the temple was a work of the Byzantine Emperor of the Great and Saint Constantine to fulfill the desire of his mother, St. Helen. At this point it is stated that during the journey of King Helen to the Holy Land, the ship he was on was forced to flee to Paros because of great sea. There, St. Helen, praying to the Virgin Mary, the patron of Constantinople, put on the completion of her journey to build a magnificent church dedicated to the Assumption. It was this Tama that was implemented by the son of Constantine the Great building a three -aisled basilica in the 4th century.

During the time of Emperor Justinian (6th century), this temple was renovated by modifications of the Early Christian parts and rebuilds in which the old roof was removed and added dome with semi -semi -roofs. In tradition, these conversions were made by a student of the architect of Hagia Sophia who overcame the art and his teacher.
Eventually, with the various conversions and additions, the now complex of the Ekatontapyliani has emerged as a mixed architect with Early Christian, Byzantine, and even post -Byzantine architecture elements, which were added at times. Given that the early Christians chose places of ancient temples with the building materials whose constituents then made their own temples, the Ekatontapyliani complex also includes marble parts from antiquity.
Both names of the Temple “Ekatontapyliani” and “Katapoliani” are brought to a parallel use since the mid -16th century, but the official name is centurion, where according to tradition 99 gates (doors) are obvious while the 100th will be revealed with the opening of a corresponding secret.

However, regardless of this tradition, the name of the Ekatontapylian or Millpylian, or the Catapolitan, according to the first one, means a space in general (in this case in a church) that has a hundred gates. It is reminiscent of the “Hundred Thebes” of antiquity, which Aeschylus had chanted. Indeed, Homer, by this name, described the Egyptian Thebes because of the size, which was very likely to have either fifty gates that were considered an entry -exit, or even a hundred that was in Egypt in Egypt, or even a centurion. Although another similar characterization does not refer to another building or city in modern Greek beyond this historical temple, it is probably regarded as a decorative adjective perhaps by the large number of arched architectures, which give the image of a crowd of gates and which the Greek tradition has probably compiled.

The main church of the Virgin Mary is spacious in its center with a few columns and marbles, but with many pillars. The dome is relatively small, which returns a low octagonal tower architecture which has nothing to do with that circle of Hagia Sophia. Nevertheless, both the size and austerity, as well as its inner unity and antiquity fascinate. Two of the four spherical triangles of the dome are carried by Seraphim’s heights, as they have been painted in Hagia Sofia. In the sacred iconostasis that separates the main temple from the sacred step is the sacred icon of the Virgin Mary of Ekatontapyliani, considered only 17th century work. Immediately afterwards, the visitor is given the wonderful marble box that depicts the Holy Bank while its four conveniences carry Corinthian capitals.

Behind the box in the Sacred Step conch lies the marble “synth” on an eight -gradient amphitheatrical marble construction that dominates the space, while the sunlight entered by the three large overlying windows gives it a large windows.
Today a large number of pilgrims from Greece and the whole world flock to this great Byzantine monument, to light a candle and pray. The energy of the place is unique and you will feel it from the first minutes, and the impression is the struggle with the bustling port and the incredible tranquility in the area around the temple, despite being very close. If you are in Paros, this is the first part to visit!