Church of Saint George of the Mountain
At the southeastern edge of the Apozari district, on the foothills of Mount Saint Athanasios, you will find the Church of Saint George of the Mountain. Its name is directly connected to its location, as it is built at the foot of the hill. It is a small, single-aisle basilica, to which a narthex was added at a later period on the western and southern sides, where the main entrance is also located. The church’s construction is simple and representative of local architecture: stone masonry bonded with mud mortar, a feature commonly found in monuments of the same period in Kastoria. The interior is adorned with rich frescoes from the second half of the 14th century. These depict scenes from major feasts, the Passion of Christ, and the martyrdoms of saints and apostles, offering valuable insight into the iconographic tradition of the late Byzantine period. Of particular interest is the depiction of Saint Gregory Palamas, which may be among the earliest in Western Macedonia. Its presence highlights the esteem in which the people of Kastoria held the saint, even before his official canonization. The narthex also features frescoes from the 17th century, dated by accompanying inscriptions.
A visit to the Church of Saint George of the Mountain brings you into contact with one of Kastoria’s most important Byzantine monuments. It combines architectural simplicity with the rich painted decoration of the late Byzantine era, revealing the city’s spiritual and artistic heritage through time.
