In the cemetery of Palaia Manolada is found the Holy Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Paleopanagia), which was built during the period of the Frankish rule, around 1300 AD.
The free cross-plan church has a narthex that is forming a Π-shaped pertistoon around the western cross arm. To the east it ends in a three-sided apse, while it has a dome with an eight-sided drum and a horizontal dentil eave. The church follows the cloisonné masonry system, while on its western side it has ashlar masonry. It has rich ceramoplastic decoration, mainly in the apse and the dome where the dentil courses and meanders dominate, while at the same time it stands out for the two large stone crosses at its western side.
As for the interior of the church, it has two mural layers, of which the older one is preserved in fragments. In the northern chapel, which was dedicated to Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas), scenes from the life of the saint and his oversized bust dominate, while in the southern chapel, which had a funerary character, there are representations with eschatological content.
Copyediting: Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia
