Church of Agia Paraskevi in Samarina

The Church of Agia Paraskevi in Samarina, Grevena, built in 1713 according to a relief stone inscription, is the last remaining structure of an old monastery that was abandoned in the late 19th century. It is a four-column, cross-shaped, inscribed church with blind domes in the central nave and furnace-like structures in the corner compartments. Its original gabled roof, covered with slate tiles, is preserved only in the apse, while the western entrance features a stone frame with a relief decoration in the shape of a human figure, revealing the craftsmanship of the era's artisans.

The church has a notable wall painting decoration, which is preserved in the sanctuary and the central dome. The older phase of the wall paintings, created by an anonymous artist, dates back to the late 18th century, while a written inscription dates the decoration of the dome to 1821, likely the work of the Samarina painter Michail Anagnostou. Among the significant depictions, notable ones include the Communion of the Apostles with Judas’s departure and the Angelic Liturgy on the domes of the sanctuary.

Of particular interest are the wooden-carved and painted ceilings, as well as the gilded iconostasis from the late 18th century. The Church of Agia Paraskevi, with its rich decoration and historical significance, remains an important cultural and religious treasure that reflects the art and spiritual heritage of Samarina.