Church of Saint Dimitrios – The Tomb of Karaiskakis

The Church of Saint Dimitrios is the first parish of the island and Metropolitan Church until 1935. The erection of the present temple was made in 1806 on the ruins of an older temple of the 17th century. This old temple was small and made of simple materials. So, a larger temple had to be built. The new church was inaugurated on March 1st, 1806 and is in the style of a vaulted basilica with a dome. In 1834, due to increased parish needs, the temple was extended to the West and the bell tower was added. The right aisle of the temple (dedicated to Saint Raphael) is a 1973 building. Inside the church are works by the Tinian sculptor Ioannis Halepas (the Despotic Throne, Pulpit and Shrine). The iconostasis of the church as the two archangels Michael and Gabriel that are placed in frames, in the central nave of the church, are painted by the great Neo-Hellenic and Salaminian painter (of the Munich School), Polychronis Lebesis. Also in the church there are images of Dimitrios P. Andrianos and Ioannis Athanasios. In the church there is the tomb of the leader of the Revolution of 1821 Georgios Karaiskakis. In the courtyard of the church there is a bust of the fighter. Also inside the church and the marble shrine there are two silver icons of Saint Dimitrios. One is dedicated to Georgios Karaiskakis and the other to Giorgakis Mathesis, chief of Salamini and founder of the temple. The church celebrates on October 26.