Church of Panagia Chalkeon - Thessaloniki, Greece
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vraatja
N 40° 38.205 E 022° 56.620
34T E 664364 N 4500250
A stamp depicting the Byzantine Church of Panagia Chalkeon from an 11th-century in Thessaloniki.
Waymark Code: WMDTVA
Location: Greece
Date Posted: 02/24/2012
Views: 16
The stamp depicting a beautiful Church of Panagia Chalkeon was issued in January, 1972 in a serie dedicated to famous Greek Churches.
According to the founder's inscription above the west entrance, the church was built in 1028 by the protospatharios (one of the highest court dignities of the middle Byzantine period)Christopher, katepano (a senior Byzantine military rank and office) of Longobardia, and his wife Maria, son Nikephoros and two daughters, Anna and Katakale. Christopher's tomb was probably located in an arcosolium (an arched recess used as a place of entombment) on the church's northern wall.
The ground plan is that of a classic "cross-in-square-form" typical of Macedonian-period architecture, with four columns and three domes, one central and two over the narthex. The entire building is built of bricks, which gave it the popular nickname "Red Church". The exterior is enlivened with a variety of arches and pilasters, elements which can be traced to Constantinopolitan influence. The use of arches with several setbacks gives the building a "sculpted" appearance. In the interior, most of the carved marble decoration, as well as frescoes from the 11th and 14th centuries have been preserved.
The church of Panagia Chalkeon is located at Dikastirion Square. Its name, which translates as "the Virgin of the Copper-smiths", derives from its proximity to the area traditionally occupied by the city's coppersmiths.
Stamp Issuing Country: Greece
Date of Issue: January 17, 1972
Denomination: 4.5 Greek drachmas
Color: multicolour
Stamp Type: Single Stamp
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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