Nea Panagia, church building in Thessaloniki Municipality, Greece
Nea Panagia is a three-aisled basilica built in 1727 with stone walls, an arcade on the west and a neoclassical porch on the south side. Inside, the church contains 18th-century murals, a gilded wooden iconostasis, and 19th-century bishop's throne and pulpit.
An earlier monastery at this location was destroyed by fire in 1690, leading to the construction of this church in the 18th century. The building survived a major earthquake in 1978 that damaged the bell tower, but the structure was later reconstructed.
The church is named after the Virgin Mary and continues a long tradition of Marian devotion in Greece. Today, worshippers light candles before the icons and gather here for prayer, keeping these religious customs alive within its walls.
The church is located near Tsimiski and Metropolis streets in the southeastern center of Thessaloniki and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors should wear modest clothing and maintain quiet, as this is an active place of worship with simple, peaceful interior spaces.
The original monastery at this site was founded by a man named Hilarion Mastounis in the 12th century, long before the present church was built. This deep historical continuity shows how this place has remained a center of religious faith for centuries.
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