The Temple of Episkopi
The temple of Episkopi is located near the village of Stavri, opposite Cape Tigani. It is one of the most important Byzantine monuments of Mani and dates back to the end of the 12th century. According to scholars it was the cathedral of the diocese of Maine. Initially, it was dedicated to Saint George, while today it is dedicated to Virgin Mary. The church of Episkopi was privately owned and belonged to the lord of the area called George Daimonogiannis.
It is a small cruciform church with a dome supported by two columns, and a narthex to the west. Ancient, building materials, porcelain, carved parts and crimson bricks of Tainaros marble have been used in the building of the masonry of the church. The paintings that decorate the dome and its antennas, give elegance to the multicolored monument. The dome is of "Athenian type", octagonal, with marble columns in the corners and gutters. The windows are blocked by a marble slab that has two or three holes, while the floor of the temple is covered with marble slabs.
Inside the church, its sculptural decoration is almost intact. The iconostasis was originally made of marble and its architectural members have been incorporated into the present, built - in iconostasis. The horseshoe-shaped arch of the Holly Gate is unique in Greece, while equally important is the mural decoration which dates back to around 1200. Particularly imposing are the representations of Hell and its tortures. In one of the quarters of the arch and the built iconostasis, the visitor can see later frescoes dating back to the 18th century by the Oikonomakis and Alogakos families who are the owners of the church and the cemetery right next door to it. Finally, next to the church there are traces of a medieval settlement.