Greek Culture Ministry launches Samothrace Panagia church restoration

The Greek Ministry of Culture has begun work to restore the historic Holy Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Panagia) in Karlofarsi, Samothrace. The project, funded by the National Development Programme of the Ministry and the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund, carries a budget of more than €10 million, with €7.5 million allocated to the three‑year restoration of the main church severely damaged in the October 2020 earthquake.

At the same ceremony, the ministry handed over two additional monuments to public access: the post‑Byzantine Church of the Saints Janaki (Άι Γιάννακηδες) in Ano Vathi and the Early Christian Cemetery at Pythagorio. Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni said, “Our visit marks a series of significant developments for culture in Samothrace,” and emphasized the project’s importance for the island’s cultural identity and local community.

The restoration includes structural reinforcement, seismic retrofitting and preservation of the church’s architectural and artistic elements, while the newly opened sites are now safe and fully visitable for residents and tourists alike.