The Three Hierarchs are being honored today, January 30, by the Orthodox Church, and for many, eyes are turning to Eratosthenous Street in Pagrati. There, in the shadow of the magnificent Holy Church of St. Spyridon, hides a real “diamond”, unknown to most passers-by.

It is the historic chapel of the Three Hierarchs. A church of just 30 square meters, but one that “holds” a huge amount of history within it, as it was identified with figures such as Agios Nikolaos of Planas and the “saint of Greek letters”, Alexandros Papadiamantis. A closed chapel, which is opened to the faithful upon request to the neocourier of St. Spyridon.

The parish priest of Agios Spyridonos Pagrati, Father Kyriakos Tsouros, who, on an exceptional occasion, opened the doors to record the interior of the church, spoke to Orange Press Agency about the history of this special place.

“We are in the Chapel of the Three Hierarchs, and it is located at Eratosthenous Street number 10. In the past,t this area was called ‘Fratrachonisi’, which is why the church is known as the church of St. Spyridon of Fratrachonisi or ‘Three Hierarchs of Fratrachonisi‘,” he says.

Going back in time, it describes a completely different Athens: “This chapel was built in an area that was then only mountains, as along with other chapels that existed in the same area.”

According to historical evidence, the chapel, located at the corner of Konstantinos Verses Street, originally belonged to the Kalogridis family. It was built by Dimitrios Kalogridis, passed on to Ioannis Kalogridis, and eventually, his wife, Panagiota, donated it to the church.

“According to the sources and information we have, it must have been built before 1880. We have an inscription which is there on an iconography, which says that this iconography was donated and in 1887,” explains Fr. Kyriakos.

In the footsteps of St. Nicholas Plana and Papadiamantis

However, the greatest “secret” of the church is hidden in the persons who passed through its humble threshold.

“We also have the information that St. Nicholas of Planas also served here,” reveals Fr. Kyriakos with obvious emotion. “It is very touching for us, when we minister in this chapel, to think and feel that we are stepping on the place, the place where St. Nicholas of Planas stepped.”

This connection, according to the Agios Spyridon archive, is confirmed by testimonies rescued by Fotis Kontoglou and repeated by Dimitris Ferousis. Agios Nikolaos Planas often worked there, having top literary figures at his side.

“Here, when Agios Nikolaos Planas came and officiated, he had various cantors with him, including Alexandros Papadiamantis. That is why we have recorded this information outside the chapel, as if it remains as a historical fact. Because it is no small thing for Papadiamantis to chant here, to imagine him in this humble lectern,” the priest stresses.

Painted with folk art

The space exudes a mystique, enhanced by its unusual decoration. “This chapel is painted with folk art, as you can see around. The paintings around the walls are not dated above, but we assume they are of about the same period,” Fr. Kyriakos notes.

Documenting the history of the church was not left to chance. “We have recorded the history of the church of Agios Spyridon in a book, which is based on the surviving records of the church. The church records survive from the early 20th century, so that’s where we got all the information we are writing from,” he explains.

“Shelter of souls”

Despite its small size, the chapel’s role has been and remains important to the local community.

“The nave, the main chapel, is about 30 square metres. There was a courtyard around it, which we covered so that people who come, who don’t fit inside the church, can also attend the Divine Liturgy,” Fr. Kyriakos Tsouros said.

He recalls, “Certainly this chapel, like all chapels, were places of refuge and spiritual strengthening. We have an old photograph, from around 1930, which shows that right outside here, at the entrance, there was a fountain where people used to come and get water.”

Today, the small nave continues to inspire. “These small chapels attract many believers, especially young people, to get the reinforcement in their lives and in the struggle of life,” he notes.

In closing, Father Kyriakos sends his own message for today’s celebration: “The message for today is that we can base our lives, our existence, all our actions, on our faith in Christ and the Saints, so that we can face all these difficulties that exist worldwide, unfortunately, where evil has spread.”

Who is Protopresbyter Kyriakos Tsouros

Fr. Kyriakos Tsouros has served as a parish priest at St. Spyridon’s Church since 1976 and as Superior since 1989. He holds a Doctorate in Theology from the Roman Catholic Theological School of Southern Italy, with a thesis on St Chrysostom. He has a rich educational background, was a close collaborator of the late Fr. Antonios Alevisopoulou, and has served for 25 years as a member of the Episcopal Court of the Archdiocese of Athens. He has been honoured with the “Golden Cross of Apostle Paul” by the Church of Greece.