Church of Agios Zacharias in Grammos

Near the Greek–Albanian border, approximately 30 km from Nestorio at an altitude of 1,250 metres, the solitary yet imposing Church of Agios Zacharias awaits, carrying centuries of history. It was built in the late 16th century as the katholikon of a monastery that was abandoned in the 18th century, following the arrival of Muslim settlers. The church belongs to the cross-in-square architectural type and is crowned by a remarkably beautiful octagonal dome adorned with ceramic details. Although its frescoes have suffered damage over time, partly due to fires lit by shepherds seeking shelter from harsh weather, the image of Christ Pantokrator in the dome and the figures of the saints emerging through centuries of soot remain deeply moving.