The Dormition of the Mother of God Temple, Plesia

It’s a three-aisled basilica and its roof is cross-shaped, result achieved by the intersection at the center of the two double lines of columns traversing the temple alength and breadthwise. At the intersection, the 8-sided dome is raised. The roof stretches continuously to the east and west of the intersection, creating a spacious interior, adequate for its function as a parish church and allowing the shaping of a cross, as seen from the exterior.

There are 4 inscriptions in the temple. The first is found in the gable facade of the northern side. The second lies on the southern side of the temple, carved on a stone placed contrarily, rendered in this way non-readable and leading to the conclusion that it belonged to an older temple. The third lies atop the western entrance of the temple. The fourth and the latest of all, is placed over the northern entrance of the temple, which is the main entrance of the temple.

The sanctuary of the temple is decorated with scenes from the Old Testament and from the lives of Saints. The narthex has decorations depicting the Second Coming of Jesus and Judgment’s Day, covering its eastern side. Paradise and Hell are separated by a river of flames.

Bibliography: Α. Χατζηνικολάου, Βυζαντινά και μεσαιωνικά μνημεῖα τῆς Ἠπείρου. ΑΔ 21(1966)297. Ιστορικά των Κατσανοχωρίων Ηπείρου. Αθήνα 1969. Ε. Τσαπαρλής, Ξυλόγλυπτα τέμπλα Ἠπείρου 17^ου – ά ἡμίσεος 18^ου αἰ. Αθήνα 1980, 73 ff. Β. Παπαδοπούλου, Περιοδείες-Καταγραφές, Πλαίσια. Ναός της Κοίμησης της Θεοτόκου. ΑΔ 47(1992)311-312. Α. Λαζάνης, Ιστορικά του χωριου μου Πλαίσια. Πλαίσια 1995, cf. 20-21. Γ. Μανόπουλος, Επιγραφικές και άλλες μαρτυρίες από τα Κατσανοχώρια. ΗΧ 35(2001)99-196, especiallyp. 131-133 andp. 145-147.

 

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