Basilica of the Catechumens

In the north-western part of the lower town of the Castle of Servia, you will discover the Basilica of the Catechumens, which served as the city’s episcopal church for centuries. Built around 1000, this three-aisled basilica, with its narthex and elevated central aisle, underwent successive alterations between the 12th and the 16th centuries. As you explore the monument, you will discover the three layers of frescoes preserved within its walls: the earliest belongs to the church’s original construction phase, the second dates to the 13th century during the episcopate of Bishop Michael, while the third is dated to the 15th–16th centuries. Today, only the remains of the basilica survive, telling the story of its long and eventful past and inviting you to discover one of Servia’s most important Byzantine monuments.