The Church of Saint Catherine belongs to the parish of “Great Virgin Mary – Saint Dimitrios of Thiva” and is a special legacy and a special blessing for the historic city of Thiva, since it is one of the oldest Christian altars in Viotia and the only church of the Saint in the wider region.
The early Christian Church of SAINT CATHERINE is a holy pride, a special legacy and a special blessing for the historic city of Thiva, since it is one of the oldest Christian altars in Viotia and the only Church of St. Catherine in the wider region!
To the left of the chancel, two “arcosoliums” are preserved, which were either “tombs” of Christian infants or ossuaries of Christian martyrs, carved in porous rock.
To the right of the chancel, part of the rock and part of the circular staircase which was the entrance to the inner corridor of the catacomb is preserved. The corridor crossed today’s Epaminondou Street (pedestrian street) and reached up to the Chapel of St. Andrew, covering a distance of about 120 meters!
The church in its current form, includes the main church (arched building, where one descends with 5 steps), the portico (where the stone arch – first old entrance – stands out) as well as the gateway built in 1996. The upper pilgrimage Church of the Saint was built in 1951.
The Church of St. Catherine was also used as the first accommodation for the displaced Asia Minor refugees who found hospitality and warmth here in 1922.
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