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Type:
Date: 5th-6th century A.D.
Description:
This is one of the oldest churches in Attica. Its remains are found near the ancient temple of Artemis. It is dated after the middle of the 5th century and imitates the ecclesiastical architecture of the metropolis Korinthos, where Attica belonged. It is a timber-roofed, three-aisled basilica with a semicircular apse, two narthexes and annexes among which a baptistery is found. It is a big Christian complex, probably one of the most imposing in the countryside of Attica. This is not chance considering that it was next to that great temple of antiquity. Consequently, the first Christians of the area attempted and wished to attribute to it a competitive character. The annexes of this basilica are of great interest. The diaconicon is in the northern narrow side of the exonarthex. There the faithful would donate their offers while entering the temple. A similar annex in the south side of the apse apparently functioned as a sacristy. In the southern side of the basilica there is another group of annexes. The baptistery consisted of an antechamber that led to a circular area, while the photistirion (a chamber used for the preaching to the "katechumenoi") had a font in its center. The photistirion had a semi-circular roof symbolizing heaven. The ring surrounding the photistirion must have functioned as changing-room. In the east, a cistern supplied water to the font. The obvious height difference (as the water flowed from the highest to the lowest side) created the sense of a spring. Moreover, a cylindrical basin served for the infants’ christening or for the bath after the end of the mystery. A conch in the eastern wall of the antechamber might have served for the rendering of unction by the bishop. Finally, a big rectangular hall in the west of the antechamber was probably a cathechitirion. In the west of the baptistery, it is difficult to interpret another group of rooms.