Holy Church of Saint Athanasios in Dotsiko
In the picturesque village of Dotsiko, within a landscape where time seems to have stood still, the Holy Church of Saint Athanasios impresses with its architecture and decorative details. It is a three-aisled, timber-roofed basilica with a semicircular apse, a two-storey narthex serving as a women’s gallery, and an open portico with an arcade. Approaching the entrance, you will notice the carved stone doorframe, a remarkable example of folk art, bearing an inscription that records the year of construction (1865). On the apse of the sanctuary a blind arcade stands out, while particular architectural interest is observed by the stone window arches beneath the roof, on the eastern and western walls. Inside, the depiction of Saint Athanasios above the southern entrance dates to 1877, while the wall paintings of the sanctuary date to the early 20th century. The carved and gilded wooden iconostasis is notable, as it is decorated with significant icons by the Samarina painters Michael and Ioannis Antoniou, as well as Dimitrios Kraias. As you raise your gaze, you will witness an impressive wooden ceiling, with a depiction of Christ Pantocrator dominating a central medallion, creating an atmosphere of reverence and grandeur.
