Church of Virgin Dormition - Fragavilla Monastery

South-east of Amaliada is the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, once the catholicon of the Fragavilla Monastery. The name "Fragkavilla" is not related to the monastery, the construction of which precedes the Frankish rule, but it was the toponym of the area and testified to the existence of Westerners during the period of Frankish rule.

The temple belongs to the cruciform inscribed type with the western leg collapsed, elongated pillars supporting the dome and a large semicircular arch to the east. The dating of the monastery can be placed after the middle of the 11th century. The church has undergone many interventions, the largest being carried out before the post-Byzantine wall painting that extends to the sealed windows of the dome and south antenna. In addition, the temple has lost some of its parts due to collapse, such as the arches of the transepts and the western wall of the narthex, while later buttresses were built on the north and south sides. There were also changes to the central arch and the arrangement of the roof of the church.

The temple is built of large ashlars and plinths. The dome with its crenellated cornice survives in its entirety, as does some of the Byzantine waxwork, and has eight windows, four of which are sealed. On the south side of the church is another window, also sealed today, while on the north side there is an entrance, the form of which is later. The eastern aspect is dominated by the high semi-cylindrical arch, which has a three-lobed window and rich ceramic decoration.

The interior of the church preserves the later built iconostasis of the sanctuary and the altar, as well as mural decoration of at least three phases: an extensive layer of the 17th century, a newer one on the iconostasis and traces of Byzantine in the interior of the window of the arch of the sanctuary.

A few years ago, the Ministry of Culture carried out restoration of the Fragavilla Monastery and its surroundings, and today it is a point of attendance for many believers and visitors.

Copyediting:

Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia