Church of Agios Georgios of Politeia
Just a short walk from Agios Stefanos stands the Church of Agios Georgios of Politeia, a three-aisled basilica with a northern narthex that took shape through successive construction phases. Its earliest remains date back to the 11th century and can still be seen in parts of the eastern wall, while later additions gave the church its present form and an interior decoration influenced by the elegant style of Kastoria’s mansions. According to a manuscript by Grammatikos Papamantzaris, during the first episcopacy of Nikephoros I (1841), Agios Georgios of Politeia served as the metropolitan church, hosting the weddings and funerals of Kastoria’s prominent families. The church is also closely linked with important moments in the city’s history. In 1083, following Emperor Alexios I Komnenos’ victory over the Normans, Generals Palaiologos III and Bryennios concluded an agreement here, while Norman soldiers who entered the Byzantine army were assembled at the site. More than a historic monument, the church remains a powerful reminder of Kastoria’s long and eventful past, where the memory of the centuries still feels vividly present.
