Panagia Ekatontapiliani

The Church of a Hundred Doors is one of the best-preserved early Christian churches in Greece — and one of the oldest functioning Byzantine church complexes in the Aegean. It sits in Parikia just back from the waterfront, and its whitewashed bulk quietly dominates the old town.

The complex is actually three churches in one: the main basilica of the Dormition of the Virgin, the smaller Church of St Nicholas, and the Baptistery. The interior is serene and surprisingly cool in summer. The carved marble screens and a beautiful carved marble throne are the highlights. An adjacent museum holds Byzantine icons, ecclesiastical silver, and stonework from various periods.

Even if you are not drawn to churches as a rule, this one rewards a visit. It feels genuinely used — morning services draw local residents — rather than a museum piece.

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A story
The name "Ekatontapiliani" means "church of a hundred doors." Legend says that 99 doors have been found and the hundredth is hidden — when it is discovered, Constantinople will return to Greek hands. The church was supposedly founded by St Helen, mother of Emperor Constantine, in the 4th century, though the present structure is mostly 6th-century work.