In the presence of the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, His Eminence Metropolitan Theocletos of Stages and Meteora and a large number of believers, the inauguration of the Church of St. George in Oxynia of the Municipality of Meteora was held.

At the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni said: “Today is a day of joy, not only for the Metropolis and for the monastic community of Meteora. It is also a celebration for the Ministry of Culture and its Archaeological Service. The return of a restored monument to its natural owners is not only a duty and obligation. It is a great joy and honour for us. When the monument is Christian, and returns to its worship role, then our excitement is even greater, as the monument rediscovers its purpose. This chapel, which stood in ruins, today, stands alive again and fulfills its purpose, the worship of God.”

The church of Agios Georgios is located at the entrance of the Local Community of Oxynia of the Municipality of Meteora, in the Regional Unit of Trikala. It dates back to 1779, as can be seen from the excellent frescoes of the Chionadian painters that adorn its interior. In 2000, it was officially recognised as a historical monument, with a protection zone of 150 metres.

The works carried out on the monument included restoration of the external facades of the temple, application of grouts and inlays, maintenance of the roof with slate, replacement of worn wooden elements and frames, as well as restoration of the front. Particular attention was paid to the conservation of the frescoes and woodcarvings in the church. At the same time, new electromechanical systems (lighting, heating, fire protection) were installed, while extensive work was carried out in the surrounding area, including flooring, planting and the construction of retaining walls. Particular attention was paid to accessibility for people with disabilities, with ramps, informative signage and Braille signs.

The church is stone-built, elongated, and consists of two consecutive one-room sections with domes, while on the west side there is an arched narthex. The frescoes, the work of the Chionadian hagiographers, are preserved in excellent condition and exude the deep religiousness and artistic value of the 18th century.

At the ceremony the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni was accompanied by the Head of the Ephorate of Trikala Krystallia Madzana and members of the Ministry of Culture. The deputies of Trikala Kostas Skrekas and Katerina Papakosta, the Deputy Prefect of Trikala Chrysa Dinti, the Mayor of Meteora Lefteris Avramopoulos attended the ceremony.

Lina Mendoni then inspected two important cultural projects in Trikala, the implementation of which will begin in the near future, with the aim of promoting the historical and cultural heritage of the region.

In the former building of the Support Brigade (TAXYP), at the foot of Prophet Elias hill, the Ministry of Culture has decided and initiated the creation of the Diachronic Archaeological Museum of Trikala. The project includes the restoration, modernization, and conversion of the historic building into a contemporary museum with facilities to serve visitors, adequate spaces for the storage and conservation of antiquities, and a prominent permanent exhibition on the building’s first floor.

Subsequently, Lina Mendoni visited the Ottoman complex of Osman Shah, an important monument within the urban fabric of Trikala, which requires restoration in order to function as an exhibition space. The complex includes the mosque and the mausoleum of Osman Shah. The studies—architectural, structural, electromechanical, lighting, fire protection, museological, and museographic—for the creation of a permanent exhibition titled “Aspects of the History of Trikala through Archaeological Finds (4th–19th century)” have been nearly completed by the Trikala Ephorate of Antiquities. In cooperation with the Region of Thessaly, the process is underway to include the project in a funding program.

Lina Mendoni was accompanied to the autopsies by the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Trikala Krystallia Madzana, the Mayor of Trikala Nikos Sakkas and officials of the Ministry of Culture.