Church of Saint George of Politeia
Near the Church of Saint Stephen stands the Holy Church of Saint George of Politeia, a three-aisled basilica with a narthex on the north side, shaped through successive construction phases. Its original structure dates to the 11th century. Today, it survives in part of the eastern wall, while later interventions gave the church its current form, with interior decoration influenced by the aesthetics of contemporary manor houses.
The church is associated with significant historical events. In 1083, following Emperor Alexios I Komnenos’ victory over the Normans, the capitulation of the general Palaiologos III to Bryennios took place here, and Norman soldiers who joined the Byzantine army were assembled at this site. During the first episcopacy of Nikephoros in 1841, Saint George of Politeia served as a metropolitan church, a role later transferred to different churches around the city after 1851. It was also the venue for weddings and funerals of Kastoria’s nobility, leaving a strong imprint on the city’s social life.
A visit to Saint George of Politeia is more than a tour of a church; it is a journey through history, where the political, social, and religious life of Kastoria unfolds through the centuries.
