Rock Paintings of the Great Prespa

The Rock Paintings of the Great Prespa are significant monuments of Byzantine art and tradition, with images adorning the rocks that reflect the vibrant religious life of the area.

One of the most impressive is the rock painting of the Virgin of Vlacherna, located across from the settlement of Psarades, in a shallow niche of a rock. The image depicts the Virgin with Jesus in her arms, a characteristic representation of the Vlacherna type, and is accompanied by an inscription stating that it is a prayer by Armenka and her husband in 1456.

Further north, the ruins of another hermitage are found, along with the rock painting of the Virgin Eleousa, with exceptionally well-preserved colors. The dedicatory inscription, dated 1373, mentions Michael, Manuel, and Staikos Dragas, likely local rulers of the area.

The most recent rock painting, depicting Agios Nikolaos, is located northeast of Psarades and is dated 1827, according to the dedicatory inscription. This image is a prayer from Naoum and Stoyannis, thus adding a contemporary religious testimony to the area for its time.