Iconography

Holy Temple of Saint Menas, Heraklion Crete

The imposing church of Saint Menas, one of the biggest in Greece, founded on March 25, 1862 as an expression of gratitude of the people of Herakleon for the protection the Saint offered in the city. The position in which it was built, it is said to have been indicated by a monk, when Saint Menas presented in a vision.

At a young age Manolis Tzirtzilakis followed his uncle Stelios Kartaki in painting the murals of St. Minas in Heraklion Crete.

View of the interior of the cathedral. In the background we can see the Platytera over the Temple and the Dome among the chandeliers.

View from the East side, we can see the representation of Platitera, surrounded by Angels, holding the infant Christ in her arms. Above, we see representations with scenes from the life of Christ.

View of the South part of the ceiling. We can see the representation of resurrection and other representations from the life of Christ, while on the background we see the Pantokrator in the Dome, surrounded with Angelic Hosts. 

The prophet Zechariah in one of the small domes of the Church. Around him, painted Saints and decoration with plants and motifs.

View of the Νorth side of the roof. We see the representation of the Last Supper and the Crucifiction while the ceiling is completed with other scenes from the life of Christ.

The Dome. We can see Angelic Hosts surrounding Pantokrator, one row with Prophets among the spaces of windows, and the Evangelists below them in the triangular spaces.  

O Christ Pantocrator in the dome, dominates the whole church. The right hand blesses every person around the world, while the left holds firmly the Gospel and seems to tighten it in his chest, reminding us that Christ and the word of the Gospel is the same thing.

View of the West side of the roof. We see the representation of the Baptism and the Transfiguration while the ceiling is completed with other scenes from the life of Christ.