The Greek Orthodox Church of the Pantocrator in Patras, Greece, stands out for its resemblance to the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (modern day Istanbul) after which it was modeled.
Originally built in 900 AD as a simple church of the time, it went through several transformations before becoming the impressive basilica of today. It was completed between 1835 and 1840 following Greece’s liberation from Ottoman rule.
Local historian and writer Stefanos Thomopoulos (1859-1939), who wrote a manuscript on Patras‘ history, alleges that the original Greek Orthodox Church of the Pantocrator was built upon the ruins of an ancient temple of Zeus.
Due to its port, Patras was an important ancient Greek city-state, which flourished in the 4th century BC, all the way through Roman times. However, there are no archaeological findings to confirm the claim that the original church of Christ the Pantocrator was built upon the ruins of a temple.
The basilica of the Pantocrator is housed within the church, dedicated to Christ Pantocrator, or Christ the Ruler of All. Aside from its imposing size, it is absolutely breath-taking on the inside, and it is also possesses beautiful domes, the exterior of which is made of lead.
Testament to the rich history of Patras
Built during Byzantine times in the eastern part of the city, the first Church of Christ the Pantocrator was a smaller construction, typical of contemporary standards. From the time of its erection in 900 AD, it stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and its resilience through the centuries.
Under Ottoman rule, the church was converted into a mosque, the Kursum Mosque—otherwise known as the “lead-roofed mosque”—due to its distinctive dome. A narrow minaret was built in the southern corner, as lithographs of the time attest.
At the time, the Greek Orthodox church was situated on Patras’ main street, the commercial center of the city. Bolsokak Street, as it was known (today called Pantocratoros Street), was lined with shops and luxurious residences of Turkish officials as well as the lavish Serai of Bey Kouna, also referred to as the Serai of Mrs. Kounena.
From Pantocratoros Street to the Castle of Patras and through to today’s Germanou Street and Tabachana (approximately) was the district of Mouria (meaning “mulberry tree”), thus named because of a tree of the same name which still stands behind the church today.
That tree, according to two agronomists’ estimate, was planted around 1540. It is cited as a landmark for Patras visitors and highlighted in the books on the history of Patras written by Kostas Triantafyllou and Stefanos Thomopoulos.
In 1687 after the Venetians captured Patras from the Ottomans under Doge Francesco Morosini, they converted the Greek Orthodox Church of Pantocrator into the Catholic Church of Saint Mark. Yet, the Ottomans recaptured the city in 1715.
It is said that when the Greeks revolted against the Ottomans in 1821, the first bullets they fired against them were made from the lead scraped off the Pantocrator dome. The church, hence, symbolically contributed to the uprising for freedom in some way—at least in the eyes of the locals. Interestingly, Patras is not very far from Kalavryta, where the Greek War of Independence was declared on March 25, 1821.
In 1828, it was converted into a hospital for the soldiers of the French expedition under General Nicolas Josef Malison, who aided the Greeks in their war for liberation.
The 19th century transformation
Following their liberation from Ottoman rule, the people of Patras rebuilt the Greek Orthodox Church of Christ the Pantocrator. The original structure was demolished, and a new basilica was erected in its place between 1835 and 1840. This construction marked a new era for the Church of Pantocrator, symbolizing the rebirth of both the church and the modern Greek Orthodox nation.
The new design was inspired by the Byzantine architecture of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, featuring a three-aisled basilica with domes. The central, larger dome rests on four spherical triangles. On the east and west, there is a quadrisphere that bears the load of the domes. The external vaults face north and south, which is quite unusual for Greek Orthodox churches.
Renovations and enhancements have been made over the years, including the copper-covering of the domes in 1951 to protect the interior’s majestic paintings and decor. Alterations were made to preserve the church’s aesthetic and historical value, making it a significant landmark of the city of Patras, the third largest in Greece. Today, it is the only religious monument in the area.
At the same time, the basilica’s historical significance is invaluable. Since the early 10th century, the Church of Christ the Pantocrator in Greece, which resembles the Hagia Sophia, stands as a historical monument telling the story of a city and nation during trying, critical times. Furthermore, it signifies the interconnection between the Greek Orthodox Church and the birth of the modern nation of Greece.
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