By Demetrios I. Vafeiadis
The city of Thebes was renowned already from antiquity for its importance.
A significant center of commerce, it flourished during the Byzantine period and indeed became the capital of the Theme of Hellas and the seat of its strategos, being the most populous city.
In this region, as is known, the Evangelist Luke was active, who preached the gospel to the people of God and fell asleep in the Lord in this city.
From the early Byzantine period, it appears that in Thebes there existed a church dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the area called “Lontza.”
Indeed, it held a prominent place in the ecclesiastical life of the city and possessed the status of the cathedral and metropolitan church of the city.
Thebes has always been the seat of a bishopric, with its first bishop being the Holy Martyr Rufus, whom the Apostle of the Nations, Paul, also mentions.
At times as an Archbishopric and at times as the Metropolis of Thebes or Boeotia or even of Livadeia, it served as the seat of the local bishop, having at periods also other bishoprics subject to it; it is certain that there existed a metropolitan church, and this was that of the Panagia.
SAINT JOHN KALOKTENES
A prominent figure for the local Church, the city, and the Holy Temple was Saint John Kaloktenes, Metropolitan of Thebes (1165–1192), its patron and protector.
Saint John Kaloktenes was born in Constantinople in the mid-12th century to wealthy parents, the nobleman Constantine and Maria.
His parents were sorrowful because they could not have children, and they turned with fervor, love, and prayer to the Mother of Christians, asking her to grant them a child, promising that they would dedicate it to the Church. The fruit of this persistent and fervent prayer was a graceful boy, to whom they gave the name of John the Baptist.
The piety and faith of his parents were passed on to the young John, who from an early age showed signs of devotion toward the person of the Panagia.
Indeed, while he was chanting the Akathist Hymn entirely alone, the Theotokos appeared to him and revealed to him the things to come; for when he said “Rejoice, Bride unwedded,” she answered him, “Rejoice also, protector of Thebes!”
At the age of twelve, his father entrusted him to the Megas Domestikos, who was the court official of the Byzantine emperor and commander of the army, and who also served as educator of the children of emperors and aristocrats.
The Megas Domestikos would judge the inclination of young John, whether toward the army or toward the Church. His inclination, however, was clearly toward the Church, and thus he enrolled him among the ranks of the hieromonks.
At the time when the archiepiscopal throne of Thebes became vacant, John was living as a monk in a monastery on the outskirts of the City, preparing for the mission that had been entrusted to him by the Most Holy Theotokos.
When the Synod of the Ecumenical Throne elected him Metropolitan of Thebes, he understood that the time had come for the command of the Theotokos to be fulfilled, and he hastened with great eagerness and priestly zeal. He was ordained in Hagia Sophia with great splendor by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Luke Chrysoberges, and set out to undertake his difficult mission.
The spiritual condition of the inhabitants of Thebes at that time was subdued, as they had fallen into a kind of religious lethargy, mainly because of the dominance of the Jews, who controlled the silk factories in which they employed Christian workers.
Indeed, even the city’s feast days were arranged by the Jewish owners and managers of the factories, and not, of course, by the Christian workers. The task that the new shepherd had to accomplish was difficult and demanding.
The arrival of Metropolitan John in Thebes filled the faithful inhabitants with enthusiasm, since the reputation that preceded him was exceptional, and thus expectations were high.
Saint John not only met their expectations in the best possible way, but became exactly what the Mother of God had commanded him to be: “the protector of Thebes.” His enthronement took place in the Metropolitan Church of the Panagia, and he immediately undertook his high duties.
The Saint, with the youthful vigor and priestly zeal that possessed him, accomplished many works, not only ecclesiastical but also numerous social works.
He founded an old-age home, a poorhouse, a hospital, a home for virgins, carried out works for water supply and irrigation, and in general undertook projects that improved the life of the Thebans.
Not without reason was he called “John the New Merciful,” since for the works he carried out he spent all the wealth he had inherited from his parents.
A prominent figure for the local Church, the city, and the Holy Temple was Saint John Kaloktenes, Metropolitan of Thebes (1165–1192), its patron and protector.
Saint John Kaloktenes was born in Constantinople in the mid-12th century to wealthy parents, the nobleman Constantine and Maria.
His parents were sorrowful because they could not have children, and they turned with fervor, love, and prayer to the Mother of Christians, asking her to grant them a child, promising that they would dedicate it to the Church. The fruit of this persistent and fervent prayer was a graceful boy, to whom they gave the name of John the Baptist.
The piety and faith of his parents were passed on to the young John, who from an early age showed signs of devotion toward the person of the Panagia.
Indeed, while he was chanting the Akathist Hymn entirely alone, the Theotokos appeared to him and revealed to him the things to come; for when he said “Rejoice, Bride unwedded,” she answered him, “Rejoice also, protector of Thebes!”
At the age of twelve, his father entrusted him to the Megas Domestikos, who was the court official of the Byzantine emperor and commander of the army, and who also served as educator of the children of emperors and aristocrats.
The Megas Domestikos would judge the inclination of young John, whether toward the army or toward the Church. His inclination, however, was clearly toward the Church, and thus he enrolled him among the ranks of the hieromonks.
At the time when the archiepiscopal throne of Thebes became vacant, John was living as a monk in a monastery on the outskirts of the City, preparing for the mission that had been entrusted to him by the Most Holy Theotokos.
When the Synod of the Ecumenical Throne elected him Metropolitan of Thebes, he understood that the time had come for the command of the Theotokos to be fulfilled, and he hastened with great eagerness and priestly zeal. He was ordained in Hagia Sophia with great splendor by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Luke Chrysoberges, and set out to undertake his difficult mission.
The spiritual condition of the inhabitants of Thebes at that time was subdued, as they had fallen into a kind of religious lethargy, mainly because of the dominance of the Jews, who controlled the silk factories in which they employed Christian workers.
Indeed, even the city’s feast days were arranged by the Jewish owners and managers of the factories, and not, of course, by the Christian workers. The task that the new shepherd had to accomplish was difficult and demanding.
The arrival of Metropolitan John in Thebes filled the faithful inhabitants with enthusiasm, since the reputation that preceded him was exceptional, and thus expectations were high.
Saint John not only met their expectations in the best possible way, but became exactly what the Mother of God had commanded him to be: “the protector of Thebes.” His enthronement took place in the Metropolitan Church of the Panagia, and he immediately undertook his high duties.
The Saint, with the youthful vigor and priestly zeal that possessed him, accomplished many works, not only ecclesiastical but also numerous social works.
He founded an old-age home, a poorhouse, a hospital, a home for virgins, carried out works for water supply and irrigation, and in general undertook projects that improved the life of the Thebans.
Not without reason was he called “John the New Merciful,” since for the works he carried out he spent all the wealth he had inherited from his parents.
THE SACRED TEMPLE
One of the great works accomplished by the Holy Hierarch of Thebes was the construction of a new church of the Theotokos, since he judged that the existing church was not sufficient for the needs of the faithful, and he gave the command to demolish the old church and to erect in its place a new, magnificent one.
The new church was built by order of the Saint according to the model of the architectural style of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
The only depiction of the Sacred Temple as it was at that time exists in an icon of the 15th or 16th century, in which the Apostle and Evangelist Luke is depicted, and in the upper right part the city of Thebes and its Metropolitan Church are presented with particular vividness.
In this church took place the coronation of Duke Guido in 1294, in which all the Hierarchs and the Barons and the Greek rulers of Moldavia participated.
Over the course of the centuries, the church suffered serious damage, with the result that it lost the form it had when it was built.
The only thing that has remained from that glorious period is the carved wooden episcopal throne with the two marble lions at its base.
It was renovated in the year 1833, when it took its present form as a three-aisled basilica without a dome.
The carved wooden iconostasis and the carved wooden proskynitaria are very beautiful, of more recent craftsmanship. Also important are the wall paintings, which fully cover the interior of the church.
To the parish of the Panagia belongs the chapel of Saint John Kaloktenes, patron of Thebes, which is the center of the religious celebrations held in his memory on April 29, unless it falls within Holy Week, in which case the feast is transferred.
Another important chapel is that of Saint Gregory the Theologian of the 6th century, the oldest surviving church of the city.
The parish has rich activity in the spiritual sphere, with the catechetical schools fully functioning, regular talks and sermons being held, and also significant charitable work carried out quietly and with complete discretion.
The driving force of this spiritual and charitable work is the spiritual center located next to the Sacred Temple.
The presiding priest and main support of all this effort is the Protopresbyter, educator, and good family man Fr. Georgios Papageorgiou, who for three decades served as a secondary education teacher and at the same time as a parish priest, while in recent years he has devoted himself exclusively to his pastoral duties.
ADDRESS: Holy Metropolitan Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos of Thebes, 32200 THEBES
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
One of the great works accomplished by the Holy Hierarch of Thebes was the construction of a new church of the Theotokos, since he judged that the existing church was not sufficient for the needs of the faithful, and he gave the command to demolish the old church and to erect in its place a new, magnificent one.
The new church was built by order of the Saint according to the model of the architectural style of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
The only depiction of the Sacred Temple as it was at that time exists in an icon of the 15th or 16th century, in which the Apostle and Evangelist Luke is depicted, and in the upper right part the city of Thebes and its Metropolitan Church are presented with particular vividness.
In this church took place the coronation of Duke Guido in 1294, in which all the Hierarchs and the Barons and the Greek rulers of Moldavia participated.
Over the course of the centuries, the church suffered serious damage, with the result that it lost the form it had when it was built.
The only thing that has remained from that glorious period is the carved wooden episcopal throne with the two marble lions at its base.
It was renovated in the year 1833, when it took its present form as a three-aisled basilica without a dome.
The carved wooden iconostasis and the carved wooden proskynitaria are very beautiful, of more recent craftsmanship. Also important are the wall paintings, which fully cover the interior of the church.
To the parish of the Panagia belongs the chapel of Saint John Kaloktenes, patron of Thebes, which is the center of the religious celebrations held in his memory on April 29, unless it falls within Holy Week, in which case the feast is transferred.
Another important chapel is that of Saint Gregory the Theologian of the 6th century, the oldest surviving church of the city.
The parish has rich activity in the spiritual sphere, with the catechetical schools fully functioning, regular talks and sermons being held, and also significant charitable work carried out quietly and with complete discretion.
The driving force of this spiritual and charitable work is the spiritual center located next to the Sacred Temple.
The presiding priest and main support of all this effort is the Protopresbyter, educator, and good family man Fr. Georgios Papageorgiou, who for three decades served as a secondary education teacher and at the same time as a parish priest, while in recent years he has devoted himself exclusively to his pastoral duties.
ADDRESS: Holy Metropolitan Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos of Thebes, 32200 THEBES
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
