The Church of St. Spyridon
Open until 19:00
Ionian Islands, Kerkira
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Open until 19:00
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27 reviews
January 26
I happened to be at the feast of Saint Spyridon, visited the cathedral, venerated the relics of the saint. Attended the service and listened to the attendants. I liked the arrangement of the temple: strictly and without frills. It looks like Russian churches, but something distinguishes them: they are more monumental, despite their common foundations, and have differences related to history, culture, and local traditions. Greek icons preserve the Byzantine tradition with minimalism in details, stricter symbolism and less vivid colors. The iconostasis is lower than in the Russian Orthodox Church, which makes the altar partially visible to the faithful. Murals in temples often occupy walls and domes, emphasizing spatial unity. The interiors are simpler, but more harmonious. Natural materials (marble, stone) are used, and frescoes emphasize space rather than separating from architecture. Gold is used less, often in combination with blue and white tones. The temple is brighter due to the large windows and the use of white color. Natural lighting plays an important role. There is a sense of following the ancient Byzantine canons and the influence of the Mediterranean. Overall, I liked it. 😊👌
See original · Русский
December 24, 2023
St. Spyridon Cathedral is an Orthodox church of the Kerkyra Metropolis, located in the center of the Greek city of Kerkyra on the island of Kerkyra. It was consecrated in honor of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt, who is considered the patron saint of the island. The relics of the saint located in the cathedral are one of the most revered shrines of the Orthodox Church.
The cathedral was built in the Venetian style typical of the Ionian Islands and is unlike other churches in Greece.
The churches of the Ionian Islands were influenced by the Italian architecture of the XVII century, because of this they are small and low, with impressive belfries. The belfry of the Cathedral resembles the belfry of the Church of St. George in Venice, which was built around the same time.
The differences from the Greek churches in the interior are even more pronounced. The main elements here are the "firmament", that is, the ceiling of the church, which is either completely simple or has coffers, as well as a marble iconostasis, in its central part almost reaching the "firmament". In the temple, the visitor is amazed by the huge gold and silver panicades, unusual-looking icons in gold frames on the vault. Throughout the cathedral and above the shrine with the relics of St. Spyridon, a large number of metal figurines hang on chains: ships, cars, individual body parts — signs of gratitude from parishioners and pilgrims who received help from the saint.
The icon painters of the Ionian School were strongly influenced by the Renaissance masters. The ceiling of St. Spyridon's Cathedral was first painted in 1727 by Paiotis Doxaras, who studied in Rome and Venice, and was a passionate admirer of Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese. He became the founder of the Ionian school of painting, which spread throughout the Ionian Islands. The original paintings of Doxaras died due to dampness and in the middle of the XIX century were replaced by copies of the work of N. Postdotis.
See original · Русский
5
November 12, 2024
A small church in the depths of the streets. It's not difficult to find. Online maps work there. They say that there is no queue in the afternoon on weekdays. There are very colorful streets nearby, there are many souvenir shops and mini cafes.
See original · Русский