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CORFU > CHURCHES & MONASTERIES

CHURCHES & MONASTERIES

Saint Spyridon

It is considered one of the most important Byzantine monuments of Corfu. The church is dedicated to Saint Spyridon, the patron saint of the island. Saint Spyridon (270-350 A.D.) was the bishop of Trimithounta of Cyprus and participated in the Synod of Nikaia at 325 A.D. His relics were transferred at Corfu after the fall of Constantinople at 1453, among those of the empress and saint Theodora, which are placed into the church of Panagia Spilaiotissa. His relics are saved today in a silver reliquary of 1867.

The church was built around 1589 and is a great Eptanisian Basilica. The large bell tower was built in 1950 and is exactly the same as that of Saint George of the Greeks in Venice. The oil- paintings of the ceiling are made by the great artist Nikolaos Aspiotis in 1851-52 and replaced those of Panagiotis Doksaras of 1727.

Estavromenos

It is a baroque church, with hexagonal side, and a narthex at its east side. The murals are of the 17th and the 18th century. At the plaster chancel screen there are pictures of the Eptanisian culture of the 18th century.

Panagia Spilaiotissa

The Cathedral of Corfu or Panagia Spilaiotissa is located near the old Port, and took its name from a cave that was nearby. It was built at 1577, in place of the older church of Saint Vlasios and it has been open since 1841. It is a basilica divided in three having a baroque forefront, which was added at the 18th century. The church is dedicated to Panagia, Saint Vlasio and Saint Theodora, wife of the emperor Theofilos that took care for the icons’ restoration; her relics are saved in a silver feretory at the church.