E01279: Greek inscriptions from the chancel screen from the cathedral church Katapoliani/Ekatontapyliani on the island of Paros (Aegean Islands) suggest that this important sanctuary was originally dedicated to *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), as the God-Bearer. Probably mid-6th c.

The late antique inscriptions from the church were reprinted by Georges Kiourtzian in his catalogue of Christian inscription from the Aegean Islands. Among them we have five dedications by an otherwise unknown bishop Hylasios (all in the same form: Ὑλασίου ἐπισκόπου/'Of bishop Hylasios', see: Kiourtzian 2000, nos. 51-55). They are written as monograms on the arcades and capitals in the nave and transept of the church of Panagia (the central section of the cathedral). Hylasios was also probably the author of an invocation of God as the Lord, carved at the entrance to the small chapel of the Holy Unmercenaries (Kiourtzian 2000, no. 56), and of a fragmentary dedicatory inscription (Kiourtzian 2000, no. 57).

For us the most interesting are, however, two invocations of Mary as the God-Bearer, authored by bishop Georgios and the presbyters, Georgios and Konstantinos, carved on two plaques.

Plaque 1: Kiourtzian 2000, no. 58; Aliprantis 1993, 63; Ulbert 1969, no. 194; Halsluck 1920, nos. 5-6; Lambakis 1891, 104.

A marble plaque from the chancel screen separating the nave from the sanctuary.

The plaque is decorated with two lozenges, carved one within the other, a cross in low-relief, and floral motifs. Inscription A is written on the upper edge of the plaque. H. 0.05 m; W. 0.09 m; letter height 0.03-0.04 m.

Inscriptions B/a-d are written as monograms in medallions, sited in free space among ornaments. Diameter of the medallions: 0.16 m; letter height 0.03-0.05 m.

A: + Κ(ύρι)ε σõσον τὼν βασιλέα (καὶ) ἐπάκουσον ἡ-
μ-
ῶ-
ν
+

B: a) Θεοτόκε b) βοήθη
c) Γεωργίου d) ἐπισκόπου

A: '+ Lord, save the emperor and hear us! +'
B: 'O God-Bearer, help bishop Georgios!'

Bishop Georgios is otherwise unknown, but Kiourtzian supposes that he could have held his office soon after bishop Hylasios. He could have offered the chancel screen as an ex-voto and completed the decorations of the church.

Based on the archaeological context of the church, one can suppose that the emperor mentioned in the invocation might be Justinian I or one of his successors. Kiourtzian points out that the letter forms are also characteristic of the 6th or later centuries.

Plaque 2: Kiourtzian 2000, no. 59; Aliprantis 1993, 63; Ulbert 1969, 195; Halsluck 1920, no. 7; Lambakis 1891, 105.

A marble plaque from the chancel screen separating the nave from the sanctuary, closely resembling Plaque 1.

The inscription is written as four monograms within four medallions, c. 0.185 m in diameter; letter height 0.05-0.06 m.

a) Θεοτόκε βοήθη b) Κων(σ)τ(α)ντίνου
c) Γεωργίου d) πρεσβυτέρων

a. Κτήτορος Aliprantis Ulbert Lambakis || d. πάντων τῶν εὐσεβῶν Lambakis Aliprantis, π(ρ)εσβυτέ(ρ)ων Hasluck, πρεσβυτέρου Ulbert

'O God-Bearer, help Konstantinos and Georgios, the presbyters!'

The interpretation of these monograms is less certain than in the case of Plaque 1. Aliprantis, Ulbert, and Lambakis preferred to read the word Κτήτορος / 'of the founder' in medallion a, and Lambakis and Aliprantis supposed that medallion d contains an invocation of behalf of 'all the pious ones': πάντων τῶν εὐσεβῶν. The above text follows the edition by Kiourtzian.

Kiourtzian supposes that this invocation is contemporary to the one by bishop Georgios due to the identical decorations on the plaques. It is probable that the mentioned presbyter contributed to the construction of the chancel screen.

Based on these invocations we can suppose that the 6th c. church was dedicated to Mary as the God-Bearer (Θεοτόκος), which is probably mirrored also by the present dedication to Panagia of the central section of the church.

For other inscriptions from the church, not referring to saints, see: Kiourtzian 2000, nos. 60-69.