The 11th-century church, originally part of the Rangavas family's palace, was significant to the people of Athens as it was the first bell to be installed in the city after it was liberated from the Turks, who had forbidden church bells. At the time of its construction, the facade of the church was adorned with Byzantine artisans' take on the Kufic Arabic brick decoration, a popular trend at the time. The ringing of the bell in 1833 was the first to announce the freedom of Athens.