Saint Marina in Kissos, Pelion

On a verdant slope of eastern Pelion, in the heart of the beautiful village of Kissos, stands one of the most important churches of the Centaurs’ mountain: the Church of Saint Marina, a masterpiece of post-Byzantine art and the village’s most emblematic monument.

The Church of Saint Marina, built in 1650 during the Ottoman period, is a three-aisled basilica that stands out for its impressive size and rich interior decoration. Its wooden iconostasis, carved by craftsmen from Epirus using linden wood, is considered one of the most beautiful in Pelion.

With finely detailed carvings, floral and animal motifs, and symbols of nature and faith, it was gilded in 1793 after about 60 years of painstaking work. The light passing through its perforated sections creates a magical interplay of shadow and brightness inside the church. The reclining elderly figure above the Beautiful Gate is believed to depict Noah, while according to one interpretation, the entire iconostasis represents the Ark itself. The Byzantine-style icons were painted by Athonite monks in the 17^th century.

“The Ancient of Days”

Equally impressive are the frescoes that cover almost every surface. They were completed in 1802 by the folk painter Konstantis Pagonis from Chioniades, Ioannina, and depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, the Apocalypse, and the lives of the Saints. Among them stands out the rare depiction of “The Ancient of Days,” that is, God Himself, in one of the four “hidden,” inner domes of the church – an image extremely rare in Orthodox iconography.

The church, which also served as a secret school during the Ottoman period, includes a women’s gallery decorated with didactic frescoes inspired by parables and moral teachings. Among other things, it portrays the various punishments awaiting sinners. On its right and left sides operate small ecclesiastical museums housing icons, vestments, sacred vessels, and manuscripts that shed light on the region’s rich religious history.

A landmark for every traveler

Visiting the church is not only an act of faith but also a journey through the art, history, and spirituality of Pelion — a living monument that narrates centuries of tradition through its light, gold, and colors.

It is an essential stop for every visitor to Pelion and an opportunity to get to know one of its most beautiful villages. Kissos, located roughly halfway between Zagora and Tsagkarada, at an altitude of 550 meters, with its cobbled alleys, stone-built houses, and views over the Aegean, is a village that combines history, tradition, and natural beauty.

*Kissos celebrates Saint Marina every year on July 17 with a festival featuring music and local delicacies beneath the towering plane trees of the square.