go to the original language article
“`html
The religious, historical, and cultural wealth of 32 religious monuments and holy monasteries in Attica can now be known to all via the Internet with free access. They can see, with the help of virtual reality and 3D visualization, and also hear, the description in five languages, of the unique treasures that for centuries adorn their interiors and silently enhance the footprint of our country’s heritage internationally.
This is the result of a project by the Archdiocese of Athens, implemented with the scientific responsibility of the University of Athens and funding through a European program.
The digital visitor is initiated into the mystagogy that the sacred places of worship exude, is invited and included in the sanctity of the space, and can reconnect with Christianity and the mystical, worship life, as emphasized in the interview given to APE-MPE by the project’s scientific supervisor and Vice-Rector of Administrative Affairs, Student Welfare and Lifelong Learning of EKPA, Professor of Theology, Christos Karagiannis.
Furthermore, as he emphasizes, the digital visitor can be informed about unknown aspects of the capital’s history, which were highlighted by historical research on these 32 religious monuments and holy churches, while works of art, true masterpieces, that dominate the spaces (iconostases, pulpits, hagiographic compositions in masonry or portable image), works of significant creators, whose study and three-dimensional, detailed observation reveal unknown aspects of art, are highlighted and described.
The project, as explained by Mr. Karagiannis, helps in understanding that “the holy temples are an integral part of the experiential experience of the people of Athens, of the city’s identity, of the forms that its social, cultural and Christian environment has highlighted”.
The full text of Mr. Karagiannis’ interview to APE-MPE and Lena Machaira is as follows:
Q: Mr. Vice-Rector, the digitization of the wealth hidden in these 32 religious monuments in the center of Athens must have been anything but an easy task…
A: Indeed, after all, the past is an unknown land that humanity is called to know and understand. And without understanding it, we cannot cultivate and promote the cultural history of our nation, evolve it in the present, and advance it in the future. And if, in the past, cultural heritage had the meaning of legacy, today it constitutes a practice of highlighting and understanding our origin, our ontological identity.
Digital Cultural Heritage combines cultural data with virtual technologies and is the future of documentation and enhancement of cultural reserves in a modern, more attractive and more familiar direction for the new generation. Indeed, the mutual cooperation and synergy between the sciences of Theology and Informatics in the utilization of 3D research methods and cultural studies has greatly changed the way both documentation and its protection are examined. A significant role was played by the experience gained after the impeccable execution of three projects on behalf of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, municipalities, and the University with similar content.
Q: Which religious monuments have been digitized?
A: Through the virtual tour, we attempt to convey to the digital visitor information and knowledge about 32 historic holy temples of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens. To make him a part of history, culture, to invite him and include him in the sanctity of the space, to reconnect him with Christianity and the mystical, worship life. By applying strict scientific criteria in terms of the use of sources, critical thinking, and most importantly coming to the position of the virtual visitor, we tried to initiate him into the mystagogy exuded by the sacred places of worship.
Furthermore, the historical research on these 32 holy temples brought to light unknown aspects of them and at the same time highlighted the role they played in the Christian and social life of Athens, as they were connected with historical moments of the capital.
Q: What do you mean, for example?
A: For example, how many of our fellow citizens know that in the precinct of the holy temple of Saints Anargyroi in Psyrri many heroes are buried, such as the chieftain Panagi Cattenas, Nikolaos Sarris, Nikolaos Pittakis or that in later years, Saint Nikolaos Planas operated in the church, while Moraitidis and Papadiamantis served in the psalter? Is it widely known that Osios Loukas in Steiri (896-953) connected his name with Panagia Pantanassa or that there in 1551 the Venerable Martyr Philothei the Athenian was made a nun by the Metropolitan of Athens Kallistos, and that Saint Nektarios served there as a deacon between the years 1881-1885? And on the level of relics, do we know that the gilded iconostasis of Agia Eirene is a donation from Tsar Nicholas I of Russia?
These examples help us understand that the holy temples are an integral part of the experiential experience of the people of Athens, of the city’s identity, of the forms that its social, cultural and Christian environment has highlighted.
Q: Sacred temples, which also “hide” works of art of immense cultural value and significance…
A: Indeed, we highlight and describe works of art, true masterpieces that dominate within the holy temples, such as an iconostasis, a pulpit, a hagiographic composition in masonry or portable image. These are works of significant creators, such as Kontoglou, whose study and three-dimensional, detailed observation reveal unknown aspects of art. One can discover many and interesting things in the digital tour of these 32 significant cultural monuments, for example of Agia Ekaterini in Plaka, Agia Eirene of Aeolus Street, Agia Marina Thiseio, Agios Georgios Karytsis, Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, Saints Anargyroi in Psyrri, the Catholic of the Holy Monastery of Assomaton Petraki, Panagia Chrysochastriotissa of Acropolis, Agios Dionysios Areopagitis, Zoodochos Pigis on Academy street, and the Cathedral Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.
Q: How can one see, hear, and… experience online all that you have mentioned?
A: First, given that this particular project is a legacy for the local Church and future generations, we tried, using scientific information and language, to address people of all ages and education. To make it accessible to everyone, and for example, the translation of descriptions (in the videos) is available in five languages (Greek, English, French, German, and Russian). All videos are also available on the official channel of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens for religious tourism on YouTube. And I hope that this innovative work will be a guide for the future. (23/12/2024)
“`