1. Foundation

The metochion of the fraternal order of the Holy Sepulchre at Smyrna was established in 1691 by the representative of the Fraternal order of the Holy Sepulchre, monk and protosyncellos, David. It was originally housed in the so-called ‘Spiti tis Stamatous’ (=house of Stamatou) close to St Fotini, which was purchased by the said monk, who became the first head (proestos) of the dependency.¹ In 1747 the proestos Kyprianos purchased the frenkhane of Naltzantoglou, which became the metochion’s new shelter. The new premises evolved into a building complex incorporating a guesthouse, where pilgrims sojourned prior to setting off for the Holy Land, as well as residences and shops which were rented out, thus securing a significant income for the metochion. The property of the dependency also included money and assets bequeathed by the city’s faithful to secure their commemoration in the holy ceremonies.
Eminent inhabitants aided the proestos in his financial and other administrative duties. One of these was the father of Adamantios Korais, Ioannis.

2. Rebuilding

The building was burned to the ground in the fire that followed the destructive earthquake of 1778. Its reconstruction was completed in 1780. Ioannis Korais deemed the relevant expenditure to be exorbitant, and accused the persons in charge of mismanagement. The existing data on the metochion’s later history is scarce; we only know that it was rebuilt again in 1902. Other dependencies of the Fraternal Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Asia Minor were found in Constantinople (Istanbul), Attaleia (Antalya) and in the diocese of Chaldia, possibly in Gümüşhane (Argyropolis), which included residences, storehouses, kitchens, stables and a barn-house. This latter metochion was donated by Ignatios, metropolitan of Chaldia, in 1744. It is unclear whether these dependencies played a part in the organization of the pilgrimage.

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