Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Samarina
One of the churches worth visiting in Samarina is the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos, also known as the “Mikri 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 cover only 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 runs 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 a significant part of the region’s religious and cultural heritage.
