Patsos, church of Panagia (Virgin Mary)

The Panagia church in Patsos is a large, imposing building in the cross-in-square plan.

It is preserved without a roof, as a significant part of the building had collapsed prior to the 20th century. In the early 21st century, the church was restored to its current state by the Archaeological Service. The church features a wide tripartite narthex and a rectangular apse with a synthronon (a liturgical structure at the back of the altar, with benches for the clergy and the bishop’s throne). The building exhibits typical western elements, including carved door frames and rib vaults, and dates back to the 14th century. The frescoes, which are of exceptional quality, were created by a highly skilled painter’s workshop at around 1320. In 1973, many frescoes were removed in order to be protected from the weather conditions and they were subsequently transferred to the Museum of Saint Catherine in Heraklio. Later, the frescoes were returned to the Ephorate of Antiquities of Rethymno. Some of them are currently on display in the Temporary Exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno.

Bibliography

Β. Αγγελάκη, «Η ανασκαφική έρευνα στον ναό της Παναγίας στην Πατσώ Αμαρίου», Ε. Προκοπίου, Ν. Πύρρου, Ευμάθιος Φιλοκάλης. Ανάδειξη Βυζαντινών μνημείων Κρήτης και Κύπρου, Ρέθυμνο 2014, σ. 96-105.

Μ. Ανδριανάκης, «Ο ναός της Παναγίας στην Πατσώ Αμαρίου», Ε. Προκοπίου, Ν. Πύρρου, Ευμάθιος Φιλοκάλης. Ανάδειξη Βυζαντινών μνημείων Κρήτης και Κύπρου, Ρέθυμνο 2014, 58-75.

Ν. Πλάτων, «Η ανασκαφή εν Πανόρμω Μυλοποτάμου Κρήτης», ΠΑΕ 104, 1949 (1951), σ. 109-112.