The Agios Minas Cathedral ( el, ῾Ιερός Μητροπολιτικός Ναός ῾Αγίου Μηνᾶ) is a
Greek Orthodox
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek language, Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the Eastern Orthodox Church, entire body of Orthodox (Chalced ...
Cathedral
A cathedral is a church that contains the '' cathedra'' () of a bishop, thus serving as the central church of a diocese, conference, or episcopate. Churches with the function of "cathedral" are usually specific to those Christian denomination ...
in
Heraklion
Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban A ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, serving as the seat of the
Archbishop of Crete. Ιt is dedicated to
Saint Menas
Menas of Egypt (also Mina, Minas, Mena, Meena; el, Άγιος Μηνάς, ; 285 – c. 309), a martyr and wonder-worker, is one of the most well-known Coptic saints in the East and the West, due to the many miracles that are attributed to his in ...
the martyr and wonderworker (285-309 A.D.), who is the patron saint of
Heraklion
Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban A ...
.
History
It was built from 1862 to 1895. The construction was interrupted during the
Cretan Revolution of 1866–1869
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...
. The church has a cruciform architecture with a central dome. The floor plan of the church has external maximum dimensions of 43,20 m length and 29.50 m width and a surface area of 1,350 m
2. It is the largest cathedral in
Crete
Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...
and one of the largest in Greece. A small and old church of Agios Minas is located in the proximity of the cathedral.
Costas Alefantis, chapter 12 - Description of the architecture of Agios Minas church, Bachelor Thesis with title "Electro-acoustic study of Saint Minas church in Heraklion", Technical Educational Institute of Crete, 2005 (pdf file in Greek)
/ref>
Gallery
File:Agios Minas Cathedral 01.jpg, Front view of the cathedral of St. Minas Heraklion
File:30. Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion, South- West-facade with tower and dome.jpg, St. Minas Cathedral Heraklion, South-West facade with tower and dome
File:15. Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion floor plan.JPG, Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion floor plan
File:Stminasinterior.jpg, Interior view of the church
File:10. Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion Ikonostase.JPG, Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion, view of the Templon
A templon (from Greek τέμπλον meaning "temple", plural ''templa'') is a feature of Byzantine churches consisting of a barrier separating the nave from the sanctuary near the altar.
The solid templon first appeared in Christian churches aro ...
File:09. Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion Interior.JPG, Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion Interior
File:17.Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion, Interior dome fresco Christ Pantocrator.JPG, Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion, Interior dome fresco Christ Pantocrator
File:16. Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion, Icon St. Minas.JPG, Agios Minas Cathedral Heraklion, Icon of St. Minas
See also
*List of large Orthodox cathedrals
This is a list of the largest Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox church buildings in the world, based on area and capacity. Any Eastern Orthodox church building that has a capacity of 3,000 people or more, can be added to this page. Entries ...
References
External links
*
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Minas
Minas or MINAS may refer to:
People with the given name Minas
* Menas of Ethiopia (died 1563)
* Saint Menas (Minas, 285–309)
* Minias of Florence (Minas, Miniato, died 250)
* Minas Alozidis (born 1984), Greek hurdler
* Minas Avetisyan (1928 ...
Eastern Orthodoxy in Crete
Buildings and structures in Heraklion
Tourist attractions in Crete
Church buildings with domes
Churches in Crete
Churches completed in 1895
19th-century churches in Greece