Church of Panagia Kera, Byzantine church in Kritsa, Greece.
The Church of Panagia Kera is a three-aisled domed church near Kritsa, built of stone with a central nave and two later side aisles. Its exterior is marked by buttresses that run down to the ground on both sides, built to keep the vaults from spreading. Inside, the central nave and dome are the oldest part, painted in the early 13th century, while the south aisle was added in the first half of the 14th century and the north aisle later.
This church was built in the early 13th century and underwent major modifications over time. During the 14th century, side aisles and a western entrance were added, substantially expanding the original design.
The name Panagia Kera means "All-Holy Lady," a title of the Virgin Mary, to whom the central aisle and the feast of the Dormition are dedicated. The south aisle belongs to Saint Anne and the north to Saint Anthony. In the north aisle, the donor Georgios Mazizanis is shown with his wife and child, though the dedicatory inscription does not name him.
This building sits about one kilometer south of Kritsa village with parking available near a nearby restaurant. It is easy to locate by following the road from the village in that direction.
The icon said to work miracles was carried off in 1498 by a Greek trader during the Venetian occupation of Crete and ended up in the church of Sant'Alfonso on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. In 1732 an unknown artist repainted the Virgin's icon inside Panagia Kera.
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