Byzantine Monuments
The wider area has significant Byzantine monuments such as the Holy Monastery of Giromeri in Filiates and the Holy Church of Saint Demetrius in Kypseli.
Holy Monastery of Giromeri
A very important Byzantine monument is the Monastery of Giromeri, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and dating back to the first half of the 14th century. It is built on the southwestern slope of the Farmakvouni mountain range, north of Filiates, very close to the settlement of Giromeri, and is today one of the most important ecclesiastical institutions in Thesprotia and Epirus in general. Its founder was a significant personality, Saint Neilos the Erichiotes (c.1250-1336/7), who came from Constantinople and specifically from the imperial family of Lascaris.
The current main church dates back to 1568, according to an inscription embedded in the southern exterior side, and is a complete renovation carried out by Isaris Oxiotis, who originated from Pogoniani. It belongs to the type of four-column cross-in-square church, in the center of which rises the polygonal dome. On the western side, there is a low narthex and an exonarthex, which was originally designed as an open portico.
In this Byzantine monument, the frescoes of the church date back to 1679 and were made at the expense of Panos Ieromnimon from Ioannina, who is depicted with the Bishop of Giromeri Parthenios in the frescoes of the north wall. A Theological school operated at the monastery for a short period. Of particular interest is the Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary in a shrine of the church, which is a wonderful work from the early 14th century and is associated with Saint Neilos.
The main church of the Byzantine monument is framed to the north and southeast by cells and other auxiliary buildings built at different levels and is surrounded by a high enclosure wall.
The monastery is still in operation today with male monks and is known for its social contribution.
Holy Monastery of Saint Demetrius
The monastery is located in the village of Kypseli, in the Prefecture of Preveza
The main church was built by the Despot of Epirus Michael II Doukas in 1242, as evidenced by a brick inscription on the tympanum of the southern window of the transverse vault. In a later phase, the side annexes (chapels) were built, and at the end of the 13th century, the narthex. Contemporary with the main church is the Refectory of the monastery, which has been transformed into a church of Saint George. The frescoes of the main church date back to the 17th – 18th century. The main church of the monastery is preserved in good condition. The church is a three-aisled cross-roofed basilica (three-aisled basilica with a transverse vault). On the three sides of the church, except for the eastern one, annexes have been attached, a narthex to the west, and three-part compartments to the north and south. The masonry is brick-enclosed (porous stones framed by bricks) and bears rich ceramic decoration, especially in the apse. Of the other buildings of the monastery, the Refectory is preserved in better condition.
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