Church of St. Dmitry of Thessalonica
- Early history: The first church on the place where the martyrdom of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica took place was built between 313-323 AD. In the 5th century, a larger basilica was built by Leontius, an Illyrian nobleman, in memory of his recovery from paralysis. This church was located between the ruins of the ancient baths and the stadium.
- Relics of Saint Demetrius: During the construction of the basilica, the relics of St. Demetrius were discovered. According to tradition, these relics were secretly buried there by Thessalonica Christians in 306 AD. The church became an important place of pilgrimage, and the relics were placed in the newly built basilica.
- Architectural changes: The Basilica has undergone several reconstructions and additions. The altar of the church was located above the supposed burial place of St. Demetrius. After a fire during the reign of Emperor Heraclius (629-634 AD), the basilica was quickly restored.
- Final construction: The final architectural changes and mosaic decorations defining the current appearance of the basilica were completed by the middle of the 9th century. Around the same time, the interior decoration was completed, and the basilica became an outstanding religious and cultural center.
- Norman Invasion: In 1185, during the Norman invasion of Thessaloniki, the basilica was looted and the tomb of Saint Demetrius was desecrated.
- Ottoman period: In 1430, Thessaloniki fell under the rule of the Ottoman Turks, and the basilica briefly remained in the hands of Christians. However, soon, in 1493, it was turned into a mosque called Kasym Pasha Kamii. The treasures of the church were destroyed or taken away during this period.
- Return to Christianity: After the city returned to Greek control in 1912, Christian worship was restored in the basilica. Restoration work began in the 1930s and continued until 1948. In 1988, the Church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica was included in the list of World Heritage Sites as part of the Early Christian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki.
Book an excursion with a visit to the Church of St. Dmitry of Solunsky and you will be impressed!
