Corfu in detail 6: Ancient commemorative plaques on Saint Eleftherios and Saint Ann church façade

  In Saint Spyridon street (locally known as "το καντούνι του Αγίου" (Saint's alley)) apart from the famous Saint Spyridon church, there is a smaller and lesser known one dedicated to Saint Eleftherios and Saint Ann. The church was consegrated in 1700, after being transformed into a religious establisment from a private house. It was built by  Theodorella Vervitsioti, daughter of Nikolaos Vervitsiotis. The church opened its doors in June of 1700 and it was renovated several times in 1765, in 1850 and in 1915. In 1714 Theodora Vervitsioti  donate the church to the grocers and cheese seller trade union. It was heavily damaged during the bombings of 14 September of 1943 and it was rebuilt almost from scratch in 1960.                          
  There are three commemorative plaques on the façade commemorating the consegration, the renovation of 1765 and its rebuilt in 1960.

  All the plaques were written in greek. The oldest one is the most beautiful and splendid of the three. It features a noble coat of arms (presumably of the Vervicioti family) on on the upper side and below the following greek text:

Ο ΘΕΙΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΟΥΤΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΙΑΣ            THIS HOLY CHURCH OF SAINT
ΑΝΝΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΣ                       ANN AND OF THE MARTYR
ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΥ ΑΝΗΓΕΡΘΗ ΕΚ ΔΑΠΑΝΗΣ             ELEFTHERIOS WAS BUILT WITH THE EXPENSES
ΤΗΣ ΚΥΡΙΑΣ ΘΕΟΔΩΡΑΣ ΒΕΡΒΗΤΖΗΩΤΗ           OF MISTRESS THEODORA VERVITZIOTI
ΕΙΣ ΜΝΗΜΟΣΗΝΟΝ ΑΥΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΓΟΝΕΩΝ    IN MEMORY OF HERSELF AND PARENTS
ΕΝ ΕΤΕΙ ΑΨ ΙΟΥΝΙΩ                                          IN THE YEAR 1700 JUNE

  The second one is much more mediocre and it commemorates the first renovation which was done in 1765.
We could read the following:
ΟΥΤΟΣ Ο ΙΕΡΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ                                    THIS HOLY CHURCH

ΑΝΕΚΑΙΝΙΣΘΗ ΕΚ                                             WAS FULLY RENOVATED
ΒΑΘΡΟΥ                                                         IN 1765
ΚΑΤΑ ΤΟ ΑΨΞΕ 1765 

  Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the most recent third plaque but the text which was written on it is the following:

Ο ΙΕΡΟΣ ΟΥΤΟΣ ΝΑΟΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΙΑΣ ΑΝΝΗΣ   

ΚΑΤΑΣΤΡΑΦΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ 14 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 1943
ΥΠΟ ΤΗΣ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΗΣ ΑΕΡΟΠΟΡΙΚΗΣ
ΕΠΙΔΡΟΜΗΣ ΑΝΩΚΟΔΟΜΗΘΗ ΤΟ ΕΤΟΣ 1960
ΣΥΝΔΡΟΜΗ ΕΥΣΕΒΩΝ 

"This holy church of Saint Eleftherios and of Saint Ann

destroyed in 14 September of 1943

by the german air

raid was rebuilt in the year 1960

with the assistance of the pious"

  I liked the marble which surrounds the secondary door to the left.

 - If you understand greek, I suggest reading the interesting book of Spyros Karydis "The code of the holy church of Saint Eleftherios" which provides rare details about the church's history taken by original 18th century records.

You can buy it from here: http://www.cosmo-market.gr/default.aspx?p=11&id=9789609259408

                                          http://www.books.gr/ViewShopProduct.aspx?Id=6852449