Orthodox church at Poulithra, Peloponese

The architectural form of the modern orthodox church is only one of the many aspects of the problem of the contemporary orthodox church. In the liturgical area and, in particular, in what concerns liturgical space, the difficulty is to determine the symbolic elements to be expressed.

The liturgical space, dedicated to the worship of God, symbolises the universe and may be aesthetically expressed by the hemispherical concave. Thus, the first basic element is the concave roof and the vertical axis it suggests. The horizontal axis, suggested by the apse of the altar, is the second basic element. There exists a series of such symbolic elements, the study of which determines the liturgical content to be expressed. The above elements must be expressed in the aesthetic language which modern Greek architecture seeks to form, Thus, the architect must employ, not only imagination, but also the means of modern technology, new materials, textures and colors. In the village of Poulithra, the project was limited as it concerned only the roofing of an already existing church, whose stone walls determined even the type of roof (cross type). However, sufficient freedom was still possible in the handling of the structure and in the materials and colors to be used.

Structurally, the church is characterized by the independence of the supporting system of the dome from that of the vaults and lateral roofs. The chief architectural aim, on the other hand, was the expression of the functional structure through the differentiation of the structural elements and the use of transparent panels to fill structural voids.

The materials used are exposed reinforced concrete, glass, and panels of clay pipes and glass. The entire roof structure is distinguished from the existing walls by a deeply recessed joint, painted blue


Text from the magazine: «architecture in Greece» Νο 2 , 1968.