Panagia Ekatontapyliani in Parikia is one of the oldest and best-preserved Byzantine churches in Greece, known as the Church of 100 Doors. Founded in the fourth century and rebuilt under Justinian, it is the protector church of Paros and the heart of the island’s faith. This guide covers its history, the legend of the hundredth door, the architecture and how to visit. Plan the whole trip with Greece Tours.
The great church is the cultural anchor of the island’s capital, a key sight in the wider Paros travel guide. It stands a short walk from the Parikia waterfront. The sections below cover its story and how to see it.
What is the church?
The church is a historic Byzantine complex in Parikia, the capital of Paros, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. One of the best-preserved early Christian churches in Greece, it serves as the island’s main pilgrimage site and its spiritual protector.
The church is the island’s most important monument. A large walled complex set just back from the Parikia harbour, it centres on the church of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by smaller chapels and a baptistery with a rare cruciform font. Its solid stone architecture, marble columns and quiet courtyards make it one of the finest early Christian survivals in the country. Locals regard it as the protector of the island, and its icon is held to be miraculous. Its origins reach back seventeen centuries.
What is its history?
Its history dates to around 326 AD, when tradition holds it was founded by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine the Great, on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was rebuilt in grander form under the emperor Justinian in the sixth century.
The church’s story spans the Byzantine age. According to tradition, Saint Helen, mother of the emperor Constantine, stopped on the island on her way to the Holy Land, worshipped at a chapel here and vowed to build a church. The original fourth-century building was later damaged, probably by fire, and rebuilt around the mid-sixth century under Justinian, the form that largely survives today. Within the complex are the chapels of Agios Anargyros and Agios Philippos and the tomb of Osia Theoktisti, a saint who lived and died here in the ninth century. A famous legend surrounds its name.
Why is it called the Church of 100 Doors?
It is called the Church of 100 Doors from its name Ekatontapyliani, meaning “of the hundred doors”. By legend it has only 99 visible doors, and the hidden hundredth will appear when Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia returns once more to Orthodox worship.
The name carries one of Greece’s best-loved legends. Ekatontapyliani translates as “the one with a hundred doors”, though the church does not in fact have a hundred. Tradition says ninety-nine doors have been counted, and that the secret hundredth door will reveal itself only when Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia returns once more to Orthodox worship. The story binds the island’s church to the wider history of the Greek Orthodox world. The legend draws curious visitors as much as the architecture. The church remains a living place of worship.
When is its festival?
Its great festival is on August 15, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, when the church holds a major religious celebration. Pilgrims and visitors fill Parikia for the feast, one of the most important religious days in the Cyclades.
The church comes alive each summer for its patronal feast. On August 15, the Dormition of the Virgin, it hosts a large celebration with liturgies, processions and crowds of pilgrims, mirroring the great August feasts across the Aegean. The day fills Parikia and the island, so travellers planning a visit then should expect crowds and book ahead, as the guide to the best time to visit Paros notes. Outside the feast, the church is a calm and moving place to visit. A short visit fits any itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
How do you visit the church?
You visit the church free of charge in Parikia, a short walk from the ferry port, dressing modestly with shoulders and knees covered. A small Byzantine museum sits within the complex, and a guided tour adds the history and the legends.
The church is easy to include in any visit. It stands just back from the Parikia waterfront, a few minutes’ walk from the port, and entry is free, though modest dress with covered shoulders and knees is expected as in any Greek church. The complex holds a small Byzantine museum of icons and relics, and visitors often pair it with a wander through the old town’s marble lanes. A guided village tour brings the history and legends to life, set out in the guide to Paros villages. The church anchors a visit to the capital. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
What can you see inside?
Inside you can see the central church of the Virgin Mary, with its ancient marble columns and carved iconostasis, the surrounding chapels of Agios Anargyros and Agios Philippos, and the rare cruciform baptistery. The revered icon of the Virgin is the spiritual centre.
The interior rewards an unhurried visit. The main church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, rises on ancient marble columns to a carved iconostasis, with the venerated icon of the Virgin at its heart, believed to work miracles. Around it stand the smaller chapels of Agios Anargyros and Agios Philippos, while a separate building holds one of the best-preserved early Christian baptisteries in Greece, with its cruciform font. The calm, candle-lit space is deeply atmospheric, complementing the wider guide to Parikia Paros. A small museum adds context.
Is there a museum at the church?
Yes, a small Byzantine museum within the church complex displays icons, vestments and relics from the church’s long history. It gives context to the architecture and the legends, and makes a worthwhile addition to a visit.
The complex includes a modest but rewarding museum. Set within the walled grounds, it gathers Byzantine icons, ecclesiastical vestments, manuscripts and relics that trace the church’s seventeen centuries of worship. The displays illuminate the building’s history, from Saint Helen’s legendary founding to the rebuilding under Justinian, and the traditions surrounding the icon. Pairing the museum with the church deepens the visit, set within the wider things to do in Paros. The church remains at the centre of island life.
Is it still an active church?
Yes, it is a living place of worship and the cathedral of Paros, holding regular services and the great August 15 feast. Visitors are welcome outside services, with modest dress expected, and it remains central to the island’s religious life.
The church is far more than a monument. As the cathedral and protector church of the island, it holds regular liturgies and life events, and draws pilgrims for the great Dormition feast on August 15. Visitors are welcome to look around quietly outside service times, dressing modestly with shoulders and knees covered, as in any Greek church. Its continuing role as a place of faith gives it an atmosphere a museum cannot match, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit Paros. The setting in Parikia adds to a visit.
What else is nearby in Parikia?
Nearby in Parikia you can explore the marble old town and the Venetian Kastro, the Archaeological Museum with its Parian sculpture, the seafront promenade and Livadia beach. The church sits within a short walk of the capital’s main sights.
The church anchors a day in the capital. A few minutes’ walk leads into the old town’s marble lanes and the Venetian Kastro, built from ancient temple stone, while the nearby Archaeological Museum displays sculpture carved from local marble. The seafront promenade, lined with cafés and tavernas, runs to the family beach at Livadia, making an easy afternoon after the church. Combining them fills a half-day in Parikia, set out in the guide to Parikia Paros. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Paros church called the Church of 100 Doors?
The church is called the Church of 100 Doors from its name Ekatontapyliani, meaning “of the hundred doors”. By legend it has 99 visible doors, and the hidden hundredth will appear when Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia returns to Orthodox worship.
How old is Panagia Ekatontapyliani?
Panagia Ekatontapyliani dates to around 326 AD, traditionally founded by Saint Helen, mother of Constantine the Great. It was rebuilt under the emperor Justinian in the sixth century and is one of the best-preserved Byzantine churches in Greece.
Can you visit the church in Parikia?
You can visit Panagia Ekatontapyliani free of charge in Parikia, a short walk from the ferry port. Modest dress with covered shoulders and knees is expected, and a small Byzantine museum of icons and relics sits within the complex.