Ιερός Ναός Αγίας Βαρβάρας, Protected Orthodox church in Agia Varvara, Greece

The Church of Saint Barbara in Agia Varvara, Attica, was built in 1904 as a three-aisled basilica without a dome. The central aisle, dedicated to Saint Barbara, is lower than the two side aisles, which honour Saint Phanourios on the right and Saint Mavra on the left. The sanctuary is called "Euresis" because the icon of Saint Barbara was found there.

The present church was built in 1904 as a three-aisled basilica without a dome. The only firm historical evidence of an earlier church on the site is the year 1774 painted on the wall painting of Saint Barbara inside the sanctuary, called "Euresis" because the saint's icon was found there. Since 20 April 1949 the church has belonged to the Apostolic Diakonia of the Church of Greece.

The church is also called "Euresis" (Discovery) because its sanctuary marks the spot where, according to tradition, two women from Piraeus, Marigo Koula and Angeliki K. Tsampatzi, found the icon of Saint Barbara about a century ago while gathering herbs. The icon, 37 by 26 cm, is kept here as a relic, and on 1 June 2003 a delegation of the Apostolic Diakonia brought part of the saint's relics from Venice for veneration.

The church stands in the centre of Agia Varvara, in the western part of Athens. The middle nave is lower than the two side ones, so watch the step at the threshold. The sanctuary, called "Euresis", marks the spot where the icon was found. Restoration of the woodcarvings and wall paintings is under way, so some areas may be screened off.

The central nave is lower than the side aisles because the original chapel was buried under up to 80 cm of earth and stones and used as a sheep pen; the floor level was kept to match the older structure. The icon of Saint Barbara, 37 by 26 cm, was found about a hundred years ago by two women from Piraeus, Marigo Koula and Angeliki K. Tsampatzi, after a shepherd's dream.