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Type: Aisleless, Barrel-Vaulted Basilica
Date: 13th century
Description:
The church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is situated near Markopoulo in the area Merenda, where the ancient demos Myrrinous used to be. It is an barrel-vaulted, single-naved church, which succeeded a three-aisled basilica of the early Christian period. On the facades of the more recent church are evident stylistic elements of the older church such as the fragments of the side aisles visible even today.
According to Professor Bouras, the fact that this church was built on ancient ruins (the middle vessel of a basilica of an uncertain date) as well as the use of ancient fragments make it a noteworthy monument.
It is also worth mentioning that among the fragments walled into the church was found the brick of the archaic statue of the Kori called Frasikleia, nowadays displayed in the National Archeological Museum.
The church is full of wall paintings, which are separated into four different layers. The second layer, which is mostly preserved on the barrel-vault, is more extensive and is dated to the fourth decade of the 13th century. The representation of Hagios Georgios and Hagios Theodoros Tiron riding horses is dated to the 14th century. The more recent layer in the eastern part of the church dated to the 18th century is attributed to the painter Georgios Markos and his apprentices.
There is no historical evidence on the church. However, it is probably identified with the Monastery Myrinniou, which is mentioned in Michael Choniates’ epistles.
Koumbaraki-Panselinou N., Saint Pierre de Kalyvia Kouvara et la chapelle de la Vierge de Merenta, Thessalonique 1976, p. 123 ff.