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Home > Italy Travel Guide > Church of San Giorgio dei Greci

Church of San Giorgio dei Greci

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Introduction
History
Location

ATTRACTIONS

Whats to see

INFORMATION

Useful information
Links

Introduction

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George in Venice commissioned by the Doge G.Partecipazio and Emperor Leone V, known as San Giorgio dei Greci, is the oldest and historically the most important church of the Orthodox Diaspora. It has been for centuries one of the most splendid Orthodox temples in the world. It is located in the vicinity of the Rio dei Greci, a minor canal bridged thirty metres downstream by the Riva degli Schiavoni.

History

The Cathedral of St.George was built with the contributions of the Greek Orthodox faithful residing in and travelling through Venice. The number of Greeks living in Venice increased to approximately fifteen thousand after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The building permit for construction was issued only after repeated attempts. In obtaining the permit, two classes of Greeks immigrants played a key role: the Greek soldiers serving in the Venetian army and the Greek intellectuals. The building phase began in the year 1539 and was completed in 1573 at a total cost of 15.000 gold ducats.

The original architect, Sante Lombardo (1539-1547), designed a simple domed structure to which his successor, Bernardo Ongarin (1587-1603), added the inclined campanile. However, it is the luminous golden interior and the intensely spiritual mosaics, icons and sacred images which make the San Giorgio such a rare treasure.

Soon after the completion of the church in 1573, an invitation was extended to Michael Damaskinos, the greatest Cretan iconographer of the day, who painted almost the whole iconostasis, as well as many other sacred images (1574-1582). Another well-known iconographer from Crete, Emmanuel Tzanes-Bounialis, also a Priest at the Church, completed the iconostasis by painting the two Sanctuary Doors and the two iconostasis columns. John the Cypriot (1589-1593), a great iconographer of his time, later painted the walls of the dome, under the supervision of the famous Venetian painter Tintoretto.

The church was formerly the centre of a thriving Greek community which included a seminary for Orthodox priests, a nunnery and a Greek Girls School. However, the number of Greeks living in Venice dwindled rapidly after Napoleon invaded the city in 1797 and attempted to seize Greek property.

The San Giorgio dei Greci survived these upheavals and its priests continue to celebrate the Orthodox Liturgy. The church became the seat of the Archdiocese of Italy in 1991 and is now the centre of Italys extensive Greek Diaspora.

Location

Address: Campo San Zaccaria, 4693 - Castello - 30122 Venice
Location: Central, an easy walk from the Riva degli Schiavoni, up the calle to the right of Vivaldi's church, the Pieta.
Transit: Nearest Train or Bus: San Zaccaria linee 1 - 52 - 82

Whats to see

The Church is a domed Basilica with a single inflection. From outside it resembles a Venetian Church of the Renaissance Era. As a whole the Cathedral is simple and imposing, decorated with beautiful and harmonic architectural elements. Above the main entrance the visitor sees a mosaic of Jesus Christ with an inscription composed by Michael Sofianos in 1564 :

“With the help of our Saviour Jesus Christ
and of the holy Martyr Saint George,
the Greek immigrants and those travelling through Venice,
with their own efforts built this Church,
so that they may worship God according to their ancestral tradition”.

Amongst the notable works of art on display are the 14th century icon of the Blessing of Christ located on the left side of the Royal gate, the golden mosaic of Christ enthroned and flanked by Mary and Saint John the Baptist in the Sanctuary, and the two iconostasis columns. The central panel of the richly ornate iconostasis contains a simple but cleverly designed mosaic of the Annunciation which also serves as the focal point of the nave. The ceiling is decorated by a superb 16th century fresco of the Last Judgement by Giovanni di Cipro while one of the side doors features an eye-catching mosaic of Saint George slaying the dragon.

Useful information

Telephone: +39 41 522 1257
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00am-1:00pm, 14:30pm-16:30pm. Mass is held everyday at 10am, noon and 6:30pm. On saturdays and holidays, mass is held at 6:30pm.
Disabled: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.

Links

Holy Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy

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