The Church of the Assumption (1639)

The prestigious' vigla' the municipality Iolkou

Έto wide paved alley leading to the hilltop, having survived the antiquated aisled basilica without a domeAssumption. The present name(Diocese) goes back to the late Middle Ages. however, there must have been at the top of the hill some monastery, destroyed in late Byzantine times in the first centuries of Ottoman rule and in its place the Bishop Dimitriados Callistusbuilt in 1639 τη σημερινή εκκλησία.

The himself, according to the sources, then moved to the hill was home and the seat of the Archdiocese, after the devastation of Demetriada the conquest of the region by the Turks (1423) and the expulsion of the Christian population and the castle of St. Theodore. The building (Bishopric)not saved today. According to the inscription (dedicatory) on the northern entrance to the present church of Bishop Kallistos Dimitriados referred to as “Founder”.

The bungalows xylepistegos exonarthex (south side)

Tnaves separated by a colonnade consisting of two columns on each side. During the Ottoman rule was added to the west side storey exo-narthex with three arches on the south side of the current existing bungalows xylepistegos exo-narthex. Embedded in the walls (northern, southern and eastern)various sculptures shapes, Symbols, lettering,Birds champlevé in marble or stone representations, προέρχονται από τα ερείπια παλαιότερης μονής.

Σthe Byzantine era monastery on the top of the hill, the many chapels surrounded the ruins of which are still visible. Anavainontas the hill from the paved path midway, left, preserved the chapel is dedicated to the Transfiguration του Σωτήρα.

Σthe west side of the church of Episkopi is built part of the sarcophagus of worldly Anna Melissenoi, (nun “Ανθούσα”), wife toparchies Dimitriadis sygktitora of the monastery of Prophet Baptist New Stone (Πορταριάς) Νικολάου Μελισσηνού. The surviving church is the oldest pos Byzantine monuments of Pelion. On the outer walls not one can distinguish the dedicatory inscription dated ZRMZ (=1639) on the north side and even a multitude of architectural and built mainly architraves, θωράκια και άλλα ανάγλυφα.

The paved path leading to the top of the hill

The Byzantine chapel of the Transfiguration

Entyposi cause and the many ornate sculptures Byzantine era, τεμάχια που είναι εντοιχισμένα στους εσωτερικούς τοίχους του ναού της Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου.

Σduring the late Byzantine Middle Ages in Thessaly (1204-1423) Pelion was known as mountain “Δρυανουβαίνης” and this because the whole area of ​​Pelion, which extends above the current Volos, and includes the current Katichori, Πορταριά, Makrynitsa with the hill of the Diocese of Ano Volos, was known as “Δρυανούβαινα”.

The small forecourt of the Chapel of the Transfiguration

ΑPo on 10^οcentury even began along the lines of Mount Athos to be generated in higher ones of Pelion, in places safe from listopeirates, enough and large monasteries be allocated vast tracts of land with actual imperial parachoritiria. founders of monasteries are usually monks, coming from Mount Athos, but powerful local families chorodespoton with that of eminent Melissenos.

Αrchigetis the house of Melissenos Demetrias was Κωνσταντίνος Μελισσηνός. The year 1207 Dimitriada the region of Pelion and given to him as a fief (Toparchies),his friend and comrade Michael Angelos Komnenos Doukas. Όταν ο Μιχαήλ Κομνηνός κατέλαβε την Άρτα και έγινε η εγκαθίδρυση της αρχής των Αγγέλων στην Ήπειρο τότε ο Κωνσταντίνος Μελισσηνός επανήλθε μόνιμα και οργάνωσε το φέουδο της Βυζαντινής Δημητριάδας κατά το πρότυπο του κράτους της Ηπείρου.

Αsafeguards Dimitrada, both in the coastal area of ​​the coast of, and in the Land of magnesia hinterland and Mount, Building towers Survey to protect the population, especially farmers and peasants. It 1236 married Maria Angelina,sister of Michael II’ της Ηπείρου.

Αince marriage were born later toparchies of Magnesia, Νικόλαος Μελισσηνός. Ο Κωνσταντίνος Μελισσηνός, nature was pious and had an inclination towards monasticism. The year 1214 began building in the Upper Dryanoybaina (Today's Makrinitsas) a huge monastery, and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary, the monastery of “Acute Episkepseos the immaculate Virgin Mary”.

The south side of the Church of the Assumption

ΟConstantine Melissenos resigned from the local ruler in favor of his son Nicholas Melissenos. Named “Constantius” wore plain lonely trivonio until he died in 1255. He was buried in the monastery which he himself had founded. Nicholas Melissenos took toparchies Demetrias and married the princess Anna Palaiologina niece of Emperor Michael VIII’ Παλαιολόγου.

Ο Βόλος όπως φαίνεται από την κορυφή του λόφου της Επισκοπής.

Τperiod not 1270-1273 rebuilt in the Haute Dryanoybaina a huge monastery which dedicated in memory of “Prophet Baptist”. Nicholas and his wife Anna embraced monasticism and egkataviosan as monks, The former Nicholas in the monastery of Acute Episkepseos of Makrinitsas,and the Anna, as nun “Ανθούσα”, in the monastery of Prophet Forerunner New Stone. Και οι δύο τους παρ�A�ειναν στα ίδια μοναστήρια μέχρι το θάνατό τους.

ΈThus begins the long period that Pelion is characterized as a second “Mount Athos” of Greece, called in hagiographical texts”Mount of Kelli”. Unfortunately nothing salvaged from the original building of monasteries. Their son John Melissenos(1274-1285), took toparchies Demetriada the most critical juncture in the history of the region, γιατί η πόλη της Δημητριάδας δέχτηκε έκτοτε πολλές επιδρομές βαρβαρικών φύλων.