Destinations, Things to do in Corfu

Saint Jason & Saint Sosipater Church

The Church of St. Jason & St. Sosipater is the most important monument of the Middle Byzantine period on the island. The lower part of the structure is built of large rocks of poros from the nearby ruins of the ancient city of Kerkyra (Palaiopolis). The typically Byzantine cloisonne masonry was used higher up, consisting of dressed stones with bricks in between.

The interior of the church was once entirely frescoed; now wall-paintings surviveat various points dated to 11th-14th centuries. The marble columns are from older buildings and the Baroque chancel screen is an 18th century intervention. The sarcophagi on either side of the door in the chancel screen are attributed to the church’s patrons st. Jason and st. Sosipater.

According to written sources, the church was the katholikon of a monastery already in the 15th century. Throughout the Postbyzantine period the monastery was linked with noted scholars and artists, owned a considerable estate, and even today preserves some important icons and treasures.