Virgin Mary of Kremasti church and Saint Jacob’s cathedral

The Church of the Virgin Mary of Kecharitomeni (full of grace) - Kremasti and St. Iakovos (of Adelfotheos) is located in the heart of Kampielo, in the square of the same name, which is considered one of the most beautiful of the Old Town. Near the church and in the centre of the square, there is an elegant cistern orifice with relief decoration, an offering to the community by the Corfiot nobleman Antonios Kokkinis (1669). The church is mentioned as early as the 16th century. It is a typical example of a basilica of the Heptanese style. It is a one-room church featuring an exonarthex on its west side. On its north side, there is a relief decoration on the coating with geometric shapes, reminiscent of Italian sgraffito (a technique of decorating walls by depositing layers of plaster of different colours on a wet surface and scratching the superficial layer to produce a design). The south part features a portico, which was destroyed during World War II. From its wall painting decoration, the depiction of the crucified Jesus, being protected by a small wooden canopy, survives completely intact. According to archival sources, the interior decoration was altered during the period 1675-1693. On its the stone iconostasis is displayed prominently featuring a vine embossed on the pilasters of the doors and two large stone icon stands on the long sides where the works by the Corfiot painter Spyridon Sperantzas (18th century) are displayed. The Crucified Jesus of Kremasti was created by the Cretan painter Emmanuel Tzane Bounialis. Bema Gates with the depiction “Ιδέ ο άνθρωπος” (Ecce homo) were probably painted by the Corfiot painter Georgios Chrysoloras (18th century). Inside the church, there are tombstones with the coats of arms of the Theotokis, Tourlinos and Kartanos noble families. References / Bibliography - Αγοροπούλου – Μπιρμπίλη Α., Η αρχιτεκτονική της πόλεως της Κέρκυρας κατά την περίοδο της Ενετοκρατίας, Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο (ΕΜΠ), Σχολή Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών, Αθήνα 1976. - Παπαγεωργίου Σ.Κ., Ιστορία της εκκλησίας της Κέρκυρας, Κέρκυρα 1920. -Καρύδης Σ., Δημουλάς Γ., Πουλής Γ., Χώροι λατρείας και κλήρος στην Κέρκυρα του 17ου αιώνα. Αρχειακά τεκμήρια, Αναγνωστική Εταιρία Κέρκυρας, Κέρκυρα 2018. - Τσίτσας Αθ., «Ο ναός της Υ.Θ. Κεχαριτωμένης – Κρεμαστής», Δελτίο Αναγνωστικής Εταιρίας Κέρκυρας 1981. - Καρύδης Σ., Ορθόδοξες αδελφότητες και συναδελφικοί ναοί στην Κέρκυρα (15ος-19ος αι.), Αθήνα 2004. - Βοκοτόπουλος Π., Εικόνες της Κέρκυρας, Αθήνα 1990.