KASTORIA, Greece – The Central Archaeological Council has issued a positive opinion on the conservation study for the carved wooden icon of Saint George at the Church of St Georgios Omorfoklisias, in Kastoria. According to an announcement, the Ministry of Culture of Greece, through the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kastoria, is proceeding with the conservation of this wooden relief icon—an exceptional example of monumental Byzantine woodcarving, approximately three meters in height and likely dating to the 13th century.
The icon is installed on the southern wall of the church, within a rectangular niche. It is carved from a single piece of walnut wood, with an additional section on the forearm of the right hand attached by metal nails. The surface is painted using the egg tempera technique, with a fine preparatory layer and protective varnish, while the halo features gilding.
The Central Archaeological Council approved the study for the restoration of the carved wooden icon of Saint George of Omorfoklissia in Kastoria. (PRESS OFFICE, MINISTRY OF CULTURE/EUROKINISSI)
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated: “St Georgios Omorfoklisiasis, a Byzantine monastic church, sustained significant damage due to fires during the Ottoman period, as well as in other eras. Of particular artistic and historical importance is the oversized carved representation of Saint George, preserved on the southern wall of the church within a rectangular niche created after the blocking of the southern entrance. This depiction constitutes a unique example of Byzantine woodcarving and is directly linked to the historical, artistic, and religious identity of the region. The implementation of conservation works makes a substantial contribution to safeguarding the monument, advancing scholarly knowledge of Byzantine woodcarving, further highlighting the cultural heritage of Kastoria during the Byzantine and post-Byzantine periods, and strengthening the city’s cultural and pilgrimage tourism.”
The Central Archaeological Council approved the study for the restoration of the carved wooden icon of Saint George of Omorfoklissia in Kastoria. (PRESS OFFICE, MINISTRY OF CULTURE/EUROKINISSI)
The Church of Saint Georgios Omorfoklisias in Kastoria, one of the most significant Byzantine monuments in the region, belongs to the architectural type of a distyle cross-in-square church with a dome. Its current complex layout is the result of successive interventions and additions over the centuries. The monument originally served as the katholikon of a monastic complex, around which a settlement gradually developed – already referenced in historical sources from the 17th century.
The Central Archaeological Council approved the study for the restoration of the carved wooden icon of Saint George of Omorfoklissia in Kastoria. (PRESS OFFICE, MINISTRY OF CULTURE/EUROKINISSI)
The original core of the katholikon is a four-column cross-in-square church with a narthex, which, based on surviving wall paintings, is believed to date to the mid-12th century. The interior preserves frescoes in two layers from the 13th and 14th centuries. Recent uncovering of the earlier layer in several parts of the church has allowed for a more precise dating of the monument’s construction to around the mid-12th century. These frescoes are associated with the Palaiologos dynasty, while a prominent position within the monument is held by the relief icon of Saint George.
The Central Archaeological Council approved the study for the restoration of the carved wooden icon of Saint George of Omorfoklissia in Kastoria. (PRESS OFFICE, MINISTRY OF CULTURE/EUROKINISSI)