Thessalonica
is the capital of Macedonia and the second largest city of Greece.
It was first established in 316 B.C. by Kassandros and named after
his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander The Great. It is here
that Paul, the Apostle of Nations, first brought the message of Christianity
(50 A.D.) and that Demetrius, a Roman officer, died in martyrdom,
thus becoming the holy patron of the city for ever (303A.D.). Thessalonica,
Dion, Pella, Vergina are names that date since Alexander the Great‘s
era and even further back. Names that have remained unaltered for
thousands of years, that has been passed on from generation to generation,
while this land saw one invasion follow another. Yet, in spite of
so many conquests everything remained, as before, Greek.
Sites
that you can visit are: Philippi, Meteora, Volos, Pelion, Vergina,
Edessa, Kassandra , Sithonia, Dion, Olympus, Philippi.
HISTORY
Macedonia
pertains to the Greek history and culture for 4000 years. Around the
middle of the 4th century B.C. Macedonia became the leading power
of the Greek World thanks to King Philip II, who declared himself
the Leader of A Greek Confederacy. His dream of a Panhellenic expedition
against the Persians was destined to come true by his son, Alexander
the Great, who took his army to the banks of Indos River. Greek art
is thus expanded to the depths of East and is assimilated by local
populations along with the memory of Alexander. The Great King shall
survive through legends until the middle Ages and the European Renaissance.
WHAT
TO SEE IN THESSALONICA
The
Arch of Galerius: Was built a little before AD 305 in commemoration
of Garius's victory over the Persians in AD 297. (It stands at the
junction of Egnatia and D. Gounari Streets).
The Rotunda: A circular building erected in AD 306
as the Pantheon or Mausoleum of Galerius. Under Theodosius the Great
it became a Christian church with only a few additions or alterations.
Its mosaics are unique for the era (4th century). (Located on D. Gounari
Street).
The Ahiropiitos: A large, early Christian church
built in the 5th century with mosaics of astounding beauty and harmony
of color. (Located on Agia Sophia Street).
Ossios
David, Or The Latomos Monastery:
Early Christian church constructed in the late 5th century. Its splendid
mosaics portraying "the glory of the Lord" or "the
vision of Ezekiel" are renowned. (Located in the Upper Town).
The Old Walls: Erected under Theodosius the Great
they encircled the medieval city.
The White Tower: This large tower and its counterparts
Trigoniou, at the southeast corner of the citadel were probably erected
in the 15th century. Some smaller towers stood there before the 15th
century.
Agios Demetrios: Restored in 1948 after having been
destroyed by the great fire of 1918, in conformation with its original
plan as a five-aisled basilica. The church was built on top of the
old Roman baths and is decorated with mosaics.
The Crypt: The easternmost section of baths, where
St. Demetrios was incarcerated, tortured and buried.
Agia
Sofia: An 8th century building representing a transition
from the domed basilica towards the cruciform plan with dome; superb
mosaics.
The Panagia Halkeon: A cruciform church; an inscription
records that it was built in 1028. The church contains lovely ceramic
ornamentation and 65 stunning wall paintings.
Agia Ekaterini: (13th century),
with a beautiful preserved exterior and some fragments of frescoes.
Agii Apostoli: (14th century), cruciform
church with richly decorated facade, mosaics and frescoes from the
Palaeologan era.
Vlatadon Monastery: In the Upper Town. Celebrated
for its Ecumenical Foundation for Patristic Studies, the only one
in the world. Its church is cruciform in plan with a dome (14th century).
Agios Nikolaos Orfanos: (14th century), with superb
frescoes. It became a dependency of the Vlatadon Monastery in the
17th century.
Profitis llias: Was built in 1360, on the foundations
of a Byzantine palace.
