St. Panteleimon Church

The church of Agios Panteleimon is preserved on a hill on the southeast side of the settlement of Velanidia. Initially, the settlement was built in 1718 at the site of "Paleokamares", as the ruins near St. Panteleimon temple testify, which was the main temple of Velanidia until the church of Myrtidiotissa was built. Visitors can reach the temple after a twenty-minute walk from the Upper Neighborhood (moving to the south part of the village).

It is a one-storey chapel with a built iconostasis and 12th-13th century frescoes on the altar. The fresco appears to have been confined to the arch area, the pictorial plan of which is formed in the quadrangle in both zones created in the semicircle. At the quadrilateral, one recognises the image of the Virgin Mary with Christ as a toddler on her chest. Also notable is the famous “Melismos”: Jesus, as an infant, lying naked, covered with a white sheet and two beautifully painted angels on either side. The depiction of "Melismos" was officially established in Byzantine iconography in the last years of the 12th century. Melismos, as a Thanksgiving theme, has been particularly popular in Laconia as it is linked to dogmatic issues.

Finally, near the church of Agios Panteleimon, there are also the ruins of the Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi.