Fortress Churches

A domed basilica built during the second Venetian occupation. The worship of the Panaghia (Virgin) Myrtidiotissa originated on the island of Kythera, which had trade and cultural links with Monemvasia. According to a local tradition, the church was founded in the 17th century by the then Monemvasiot bishop of Kythera, Filotheos Darmarios.

The church is also known as Panaghia Kritikia because of the influx of a large number of refugees from the island of Crete.

Structural features of the church such as the round skylights, the design of the door, the facade pediment and other details indicate the influence of Western architecture. The gilt wood-carved altar screen with its prominent Renaissance characteristics of the 16th century originally belonged to the Church of the Elkomenos Christos.

A cross-domed church built in 1703 on the ruins of two Byzantine churches.

The inlaid inscription on the pediment over the entrance states that it was built from scratch by the Monemvasiot doctor and philosopher Andreas Likinios. The coat of arms with the two-headed eagle belongs the founder’s family.

The building’s structural and morphological elements such as the circular skylight, slightly pointed arches, gables and decorated cornices indicate influences from Western architecture. According to oral history, the building never actually functioned as a church. During the second Turkish occupation it served as an arsenal. After the war of  independence under the rule of Ioannis Capodistrias (1829) it housed a school.  From 1839 until about the middle of the 20th century it was a primary school. One of its former pupils was the poet Yiannis Ritsos.