One of the most important Byzantine monuments in Greece. It is located on the edge of the old city and according to one tradition it got its name because it was outside the city (Katapola), and according to another, because it had "a hundred gates". The church was restored in 1962 by Professor Anast. Orlando and celebrates with a big festival on August 15th. The church is said to have been founded by Saint Helen, when she was heading to the Holy Land (326) in search of the Holy Cross, or by M. Constantine in fulfillment of his mother's wishes. It is certain that in the 4th c. in the place of the current church there was a chapel (today of Agios Nikolaos) built on the site of an ancient Greek building (gymnasium or temple). To this original edifice additions were made, while the church acquired its monumental form at the time of Emperor Justinian (6th century). Inside the church, with the beautiful marble iconostasis and the icon of the Dormition, it is worth noting the icon of the Virgin Mary, to the left of the entrance, which is considered the work of Luke the Evangelist, the tomb of Osia Theoktistis, who was sanctified on the island, the synthrono behind the Holy Altar and the early Christian baptistery.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou
