[1] The church is located in the northeastern corner of the old city, just inside the eastern wall, between the Irodotou and Apostolou Pavlou streets.

[2] The church's name, "Saint Nicholas the Orphan", is first attested in the 17th and 18th centuries, and presumably refers to its otherwise unknown ktetor (founder).

The church originally formed part of a monastery, traces of which (remnants of a gate) survive to the east.

In the interior, the central aisle is connected to the others with double openings decorated with reused late antique capitals.

The frescoes are an example of the Thessalonican school at the height of the "Palaiologan Renaissance", and their creator may be the same who decorated the Hilandar Monastery in Mount Athos in 1314.