
Church of the Dormition of Virgin Mary
The church of the Dormition of Virgin Mary is one of the few surviving Byzantine monuments of Edessa. This three-aisled basilica with an elevated central nave and a narthex in the west, was once the cathedral of the city. The church dates to the late-Byzantine period, but there is evidence that it was built, probably during the mid-Byzantine period. The church was originally dedicated to Agia Sophia, but it was renamed to avoid its conversion into a mosque during the Ottoman era. During the 17th century, there was an imperial command by the Ottomans to convert all the churches dedicated to Agia Sophia into mosques. The local Christian population in order to protect the church lied that the church was dedicated to the Dormition of Virgin Mary, which eventually became the case. The monument has been altered due to many additions and repairs, especially during the Ottoman period, but today it has been restored to its original form.
In the interior are preserved two layers of frescoes of which the older one dates to the last decade of the 14th century. The later frescoes, preserved mainly in the sanctuary and the upper parts of the central nave, date to the 17th century. Remarkable elements of the temple are the Early Christian columns and the capitals that support the arches, dating to the mid-5th century. The church features a remarkable gilded, wooden-carved iconostasis dating from the mid-18th century, with icons of the painter Apostolos Loggianos Vodeniotis. Thε church is located in the old district Varosi and celebrates on August 15th.
Source: G. Stalidis, Archaeologist – Ministry of Culture