Church of Panagia Katholiki

On the western outskirts of Gastouni can be found the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, better known as Panagia Katholiki. The word ‘Katholiki’ is either connected to its service during the post-Byzantine period as a cathedral (i.e. katholikon) church of the diocese of Olena, or as a memory of its use as a katholikon church (i.e. parish church) of the Byzantine settlement.

It is a two-columned cross-in-square church with a tripartite narthex, an eight-sided dome with a dentilated cornice and a three-sided apse. It is built according to the cloisonné masonry system and architectural members in second use have been incorporated in its construction. The building has not undergone serious interventions or conversions, with the exception of the addition of a closed exonarthex, which originally had the form of an open portico, while some newer alterations to the openings of the church also caused damage.

Initially, the church had three entrances: a western one at the height of the narthex and two others on the south and north walls, which today are sealed. Noteworthy is the stone pointed Gothic frame surrounding the north entrance.

The windows of the church vary in the number of their lobes and are surrounded by a dentil course, while the apse and the south gable are decorated with a brick cross, glazed plates, and built-in bowls. In general, the ceramoplastic decoration of the church is particularly extensive and includes dentil courses, zigzag lines, alphabet characters, suns (rosettes), meanders, etc.

As for its interior, the church had mural decoration contemporaneous with its construction, but today it is preserved in fragments. The mural decoration of 1702, which according to the founding inscription, was financed by the bishop of Olena, Ioannikios Neiros, is preserved in better condition.

The construction of the church took place in the 13th c. (1278/9), according to an inscription on the apse where it is mentioned that its founders were the Kalligopoulos "full brothers" and their spouses, who apparently belonged to the Greek lords who maintained their privileges by declaring submission to the Latins.
 

Copyediting: Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia