Holy Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos – The “Little Panagia” of Samarina
One of the churches worth visiting in Samarina is the Holy Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, also known as the “Little Panagia”. It is a three-aisled timber-roofed basilica with a semicircular apse, a spacious narthex, and a pitched roof originally covered with slate slabs, whose surviving parts only cover the apse. The church was built in 1865, replacing an earlier structure of 1799, as confirmed by the dedicatory inscriptions. The masonry of the apse is carefully dressed, while a simple yet elegant arcade stresses around the sanctuary. Both entrances are adorned with carved stone decoration. Inside, an impressive Baroque carved wooden iconostasis survives. Although several icons have been stolen, the church remains visibly significant to the religious and cultural heritage of the region.
