A medieval basilica

A medieval basilica

Greece
West Macedonia
Region of Prespes Lakes, at the fronters with Albania and FYROM
Medieval remnants of St Achilles basilica

The remnants of the great basilica of St Achilles is the most photographed monument on the lake Mikri Prespa. St Achilles was a large basilica built between 983-986 by the Bulgarian Tzar Samuel when himself and other nobles tried to resist to the Byzantine empire expansion and keep this long disputed area as an independent Bulgarian territory. After the Christianization of Bulgaria several Orthodox churches have been built on that territory with St Achilles the most imposing. Therefore traces of early medieval Bulgarian painting and sculpture appear in the ruines and in the inner side of the apse are written names of bishops. All these are presently housed in the museum of the nearby greek town of Florina. The basilica was eventually destroyed by Latin mercenaries in 1073.
The visit of the remnants is particularly impressing in winter time when the view through the three arches of the sanctuary over the surrounding lake and the snowcovered mountain peaks, pops like a film on a screen.