Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Metamorfosi Sotiros) in Samarina

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Metamorfosi Sotiros) in Samarina, Grevena, built in the late 18th century, is an important religious and architectural monument. Initially dedicated to Agia Paraskevi, it has been referred to as the Church of the Transfiguration since at least 1856, according to the monk Chrysanthos Papaioannou. Located near the katholikon of Agia Paraskevi, it is a complex four-columned, cross-in-square church with a blind hemispherical dome and semicylindrical vaults. The masonry consists of finely hewn stones, imitating the pseudo-isodomic system, while the corners and doorframes are meticulously crafted.

The church was decorated in 1819 by the Samarina-born painters Dimitrios and Michail Anagnostou, along with Papa-Ioannis Anagnostou. The interior is entirely adorned with frescoes featuring a rich iconographic program that includes saints, floral and geometric motifs, and influences from Western Baroque and Rococo. A particularly rare depiction of the Theotokos as a winged figure, inspired by the Book of Revelation, stands out on the western vault. On the iconostasis, the Despotic icon of the Theotokos, a work by Michail Anagnostou (1815), is a significant example of his artistry.

The church also features blind apsidal niches with trilobed arches in the sanctuary apse, decorated with relief motifs such as crosses and double-headed eagles. The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior remains a significant cultural and religious treasure, reflecting the history and artistic heritage of Samarina.