Church of Agios Athanasios Mouzaki in Kastoria

The Church of Agios Athanasios Mouzaki, one of the most significant Byzantine monuments in Kastoria, is located near the metropolitan cathedral in a central part of the city. According to the dedicatory inscription preserved on the western wall, the church was built and decorated in 1383–1384 by the brothers Stoia and Theodoros Mouzaki, members of the Albanian Mouzaki family, along with the hieromonk Dionysios. Its construction took place during a critical period for Kastoria, just before the Ottoman conquest, making it one of the last churches erected in the region before the change of power.

The church is small, single-aisled, with a wooden roof and a semicircular apse in the eastern section. A later narthex was added on the western side. Its architecture is simple, with masonry consisting of irregular stones and mortar, while the exterior features blind arches on the northern, southern, and western façades. Although the roof was renovated in the 1950s, it retains elements of the original construction.

The interior of the church boasts a rich iconographic program, emphasizing narrative scenes from the life and Passion of Christ, as well as depictions of saints, with a particular focus on military saints. A noteworthy composition is the Deesis, where Christ is portrayed as the Great High Priest, and the Virgin Mary wears an imperial robe. The frescoes, the work of talented iconographers, reflect the artistic tradition of the late Byzantine period and the cultural flourishing of Kastoria.

The Church of Agios Athanasios Mouzaki is a significant monument of Byzantine art and history, closely linked to the local aristocracy and the political changes of the era. It preserves the memory of the city before Ottoman rule, serving as a testament to its rich cultural and historical heritage.