It belongs to the type of three-aisled dome-covered basilica
The settlement of Psiloma, known until 1963 as Kritsotades, is located in the northern part of Municipality of Meteora, on the border with the prefecture of Grevena. The holy church of Agios Dimitrios is located at the northwest end of the residential area. Its construction is connected with the kleftarmatolo Yiannis Psiras who was active during the second half of the 18th century in the armatoliki of the Khasias. At the same time, it seems that the double-arched “Psira bridge” that bridges the tributary of Pinios Ionas, at a distance of 300m from the exit to Psiloma on the road to Deskatis, was built. These are facts contained in a brochure of the Ministry of Culture and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Trikala.
Architecture
His temple Agios Dimitrios it belongs to the type of three-bay vaulted basilica. Basilicas prevail after 1700 throughout the country under Ottoman rule. The stone-built temple ends in a semi-circular niche to the east, while to the south and west, it has a later closed portico. The church is covered with arches, supported on slings in the central aisle, while the side aisles are formed by four furnikas, i.e. four low domes in each aisle separated by arches. It is a practice of popular architecture with eastern influences, which is characteristic of the post-Byzantine period in the Greek area. The roof is covered with stone slabs, while the wooden roof of the portico is covered with tiles. To the south of the temple, where the main entrance is, extends the courtyard area of the monument. The main temple has one door on the south wall and another on the west, which leads to the porch which also functions as a narthex. The inscription above the western entrance door, inside, informs us that the construction and wall painting of the church was completed in 1791, during the reign of Bishop Paisios B, at the expense of the Hasiotis “captain” thief Giannis Pseiras. The temple is a declared monument according to YA YPPE/ARCH/B1/Φ32/69669/2109 (Government Gazette 143 / B ́ / 13-3-1984).
The murals
According to the historical inscription, the main church as well as the south and west walls of the exonarthex are recorded with fine art frescoes contemporary to the construction of the church, the work of the iconographer Michael from the village of Hionades. The descendants of the Hioniades of Ioannina, on the south side of Grammos, are famous painters with a rich and important work in the regions of Epirus, Thessaly and Western Macedonia. The rich fresco decoration of the temple is developed in zones, as was customary at the time, with the representations spread over the arches, arches, furnaces and even the columns and wooden tractors of the temple. Above the lower zone with the decorative themes are lined up full-length figures of saints, then saints on busts, while in the upper zones and on the arch scenes from the Twelve and martyrdoms of saints. Characteristic is the way of decoration on the domes, with a figure of a holy face in bust on the central medal and around the perimeter scenes from life, its miracles or persons related to this depicted figure. Among the external frescoes, the imposing representation of the Second Coming that covers the entire western wall stands out. The art of mural decoration is characterized by the richness of the subjects and the density of pictorial circles, as well as by the extensive application of floral and geometric motifs with vivid colors, reminiscent of the painted decoration of mansions of the period in Macedonia and Thessaly. Inside, a remarkable wood-carved gilded iconostasis with despotic images from the same period is preserved.
The restoration work of the temple
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Trikala during the years 2021-2023 carried out work to highlight the church and the front, as well as architectural – static restoration of the monument. Based on the approved studies, grouts were applied to the stone structures, the external faces were grouted with mortars compatible with the traditional ones, the domes were fixed and the external roof was replaced with a new wooden one. The wooden roof of the main church was reconstructed, which was covered with stone slabs, as well as the wooden tiled roof of the porch. The floor of the main church was restored in which the old preserved stone slabs were re-placed, the wooden floor in the porch was reconstructed and new frames were installed throughout the monument.
The maintenance of the frescoes
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Trikala carried out the fixing and maintenance of the mural decoration, based on the approved maintenance study. The works also included the paintings of the columns and the wooden tractors. The vulnerable parts were protected with fabric reinforcements and then fixed. Later plasters, plasters and paints were removed and loose substrates were restored. The painted surface was fixed and cleaned, empty areas and cracks were filled and in addition perimeter restraints were made. Aesthetic restoration was finally carried out where necessary, it was pointed out in the EIA.
Highlighting tasks
Outside, the canopy to the southeast of the monument was reconstructed with wooden elements and coatings were applied to its newer masonry. The courtyard area was paved with stone slabs, a disabled ramp was built and finally a new fence was installed with the reconstruction of the patio door and the faucet. Drainage of the monument was carried out in the surrounding area, the area was landscaped and planting with local plants was carried out. Access for the disabled was created and information signs were placed in Greek and English, as well as in Braille. Finally, a new electrical installation was made with functional and highlighting lighting for the monument, the roof and the courtyard area. Speaking to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, the director of the Antiquities Tax Office of Trikala, Ms. Krystallia Manzana, emphasizes that the 1st sub-project: “Restoration of I.N. Agios Dimitrios Psiloma, Meteora Municipality, P.E. Trikala, P. Thessaly” was implemented independently by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Trikala Operational Program “PEP Thessaly 2014-2020” with the co-financing of Greece and the European Union.
