Church of Virgin Mary (Panagia Mesosporitissa)
On the hill, east of the temple of Faustina stands the post-Byzantine church of Virgin Mary, built over the ruins of an older church, most probably one of the three early christian basilicas of Eleusis. Today of the older building there are visible only the architectural remains of the east side.
The church is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary and is commonly known as «Panagia Mesosporitissa», since it is celebrated on the 21st of November, a time of the year when sowing is halfway through. On this day the faithful gather in the church holding multi-seeds (boiled cereals and pulses), which the Holy Mother will bless to ensure good yields. In this way the remembrance of the ancient goddess Demeter, patron deity of the agricultural produce and of the ancient city of Eleusis, is reflected on the figure of the Holy Mother.
The post-Byzantine church belongs to the type of single-aisle barrel-vaulted basilica, built in rubble masonry. The interior is decorated with wall paintings that are dated to the 18th century. The built chancel bears later murals and a wooden architrave.
To the west of the church rises a free-standing two-storey belfry, in the form of tower, built of ancient material.
The first known written reference to the church is made by Xavier Scrofani in a letter of his of 1794, while the belfry is depicted for the first time on photos taken by D. Constantin in the 1860s.
6102