The church of Saint Nicholas Ragava, like many Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches in Athens, took its name from the man who financed its construction. The old churches of Athens are Byzantine (before 1204, when Athens was captured by the Crusaders) or post-Byzantine, that is, from the times of foreign domination, Western European (1204-1456) and Ottoman (from 1456 to 1833). In Byzantium, Athens had lost its significance as it was associated with the ancient religion. Nevertheless, in the 11th century, it prospered and acquired many churches. But they were small, as its population had shrunk.