Panagia Paramythia of the City: The Church of the Rulers of Moldova!

By Simeon Sol

Between the 5th and 6th hills of the historic peninsula of the City under the shadow of the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, near the Ecumenical Patriarchate, stand the ruins of a church, whose importance escapes the attention of passers-by but even more so escapes those who visit the city as pilgrims of the monuments of orthodoxy.

 Panagia Paramythia (Church of the Holy Mother as Comforter) or Vlach-Sarai was severely damaged by the fire of 1974.  Since then, only the ruins of this church which has a history of centuries, have remained.

 From the time when Orthodoxy, as well as the Greek language, gave identity to the subjects of the Ottoman Empire,  everyone was considered a community, from the Transdanubian regions, the northern border of the empire, to the African shores in the Mediterranean, princes from the region of Moldavia resided in mansions in the area of ​​Phanar, on the shores of the Keratitis gulf.

 Manuel Gedeon notes that in 1816 a monk, Theoktistos, was teaching in the Holy church of Vlach Sarai in a private school, while on February 10 there was a celebration of the Fraternity off Philoptochos, which had been founded by Patriarch Grigorios V.

It is an important church also for the fact that the Synod that met for the sanction of the Patriarchal Throne of the Church of Russia, which took place in Vlach-Serai in 1593.

 For decades the interest in Panagia Paramythia, Vlach-Sarai, was nil; however, for some years now the process for the restoration of this church  has started. With the undivided support of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Bartholomew, the president and the members of the Ephorate Committee of Panagia Paramythia/Vlach-Sarai have commissioned the City's research offices to carry out the necessary research to complete the first phase of the effort. Mr. Lakis Vigas, president of the Committee, already has the studies in his hands and is in the process of looking for a financier, as the project is large and costly.

 As he says, the renaissance of Vlach-Sarai does not concern only the Greek Orthodox community but will be a point of reference for the entire Phanar district, which from then until today has elements of multiculturalism and inclusion. It will be a place of worship but also open to events and activities of concern to all the residents of the area.