Church of Agios Nikolaos Kasnitzis in Kastoria

The Church of Agios Nikolaos Kasnitzis, located near the Byzantine acropolis of Kastoria, is an important 12th-century monument and a characteristic example of Byzantine art and architecture. The church was founded by the magistros Nikephoros Kasnitzis, a member of the local aristocracy, and was richly decorated with frescoes that have been well preserved. In the narthex, the donor is depicted alongside his wife, Anna, offering a model of the church to Agios Nikolaos, their patron and benefactor.

The church is small, single-aisled, with a narthex and a semicircular apse to the east. Its masonry is distinguished by the alternating use of roughly hewn stones and bricks forming decorative geometric patterns, while the upper section features a frieze of clay tiles with engraved diagonal lines. The interior is fully adorned with frescoes depicting scenes from the Twelve Great Feasts, the Deesis, the life of Agios Nikolaos, and full-length figures of military and healing saints. The frescoes, dating to the late 12th century, form one of the most significant artistic ensembles of the Komnenian period (1081–1185) and attest to Kastoria’s close ties with the artistic centers of Thessaloniki and Constantinople.

The church was restored in 1952 and today stands as one of the most important Byzantine churches in Kastoria, combining historical, architectural, and artistic significance, showcasing the richness of the Byzantine tradition in the region.