September 17th It’s the day the celebration of the celebration of Hopethe Love and the Faithbut the truth is that most people know that they are of Hagia Sophia.
Accordingly, the magnificent church of Constantinople is the world -renowned world Hagia Sophiahowever, the same name bears a rather unknown temple to Andravida of the Prefecture of Ilia, in the western Peloponnese.
In the center of town, its old capital Franciscan Principality of Achaiastands one of the most important monuments of medieval Greece: The Gothic Temple of Hagia Sophia. It is about Unique surviving residue reminiscent of the period of Frankish rule in the area, built the first half of the 13th century by the Lonely Order of the Dominican.
The temple was three -aisled basil with wooden roofabout 45.5 meters long and almost 19 meters wide. His sanctuary stands out for Trim of its central arch being more imposing and decorated, protruding east.
His architecture bears intense Gothic influencessuch as arches with crossbows, exterior supports and leafy decoration on the bases of columns. At the same time, structural materials from earlier Byzantine constructions were utilized for its erection, creating a monument where elements of different times and traditions coexist.
Today, only the sanctuary and the side chapels have been preserved from the original building. The state has already approved a study on the sub -foster and fastening of the remaining departments, as the masonry is damaged. Despite its ruined form, the temple is still a reference point for Andravida and Ilia, attracting visitors looking for a look at the medieval history of the area.
After the abolition of the Frankish rule, Hagia Sophia allegedly functioned as an Orthodox temple, While according to tradition during the Turkish occupation, unsuccessful attempts were made to become a mosque. Orthodox church operated in the surviving remains of the Gothic Temple and during the modern years after the independence of the Greek state.
From the area of ​​Andravida comes two major sculptures, which are now hosted at the Hlemoutsi Castle Museum. This is the marble Epitaph of Princess Anna Villeardouin, daughter of the Byzantine ruler of Epirus Michael II Angelos Doukas Komninos, third and last wife of William II Villeardou (1286) Villeardouin – Florence d’Aino (1289 – 1297).
Source: Skai
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