From one end to the other in Greece, on every trip you take, you will encounter churches and monasteries. In mountains, coasts and even built inside rocks, many of the churches and small monasteries of Greece stand out not only for their history but also for their architecture. They offer the visitor moments of devotion and tranquility, while at the same time, they inspire awe in anyone who finds themselves there. We singled out and present today five of the most strange churches in Greece that are worth visiting at least once in your life.
Peloponnese: The church of Agia Theodora with 17 trees on its roof!
Five strange churches of Greece
Panagia Kakaviotissa church, Lemnos Island

Agia Theodora church, Arcadia

Agia Fotini church, Mantineia

Agia Fotini church in Mantinea is characterized not only as one of the most peculiar churches in Greece but also in the whole world. You can already see it when you look at it from the outside. This is due on the one hand to the diversity of materials but also to the particular architecture it has. Essentially, the way it is built makes it impossible to classify it into any particular architecture. The way it has been constructed makes it combines elements of ancient Greece with the Christian spirit. It was founded in 1969 and inaugurated in 1978. Its uniqueness is equally great inside.
Panagia Parigoritissa church, Arta

In Arta, there is also one of the most peculiar churches in Greece. This is the Panagia Parigoritissa church. Its particular characteristic lies in its architecture and specifically in its dome. In reality, the dome of this particular church seems to be floating by choice of the master builder of the time who undertook its construction. The goal was to keep the dome, dominated by the mosaic of Pantocrator, visible from the entrance. And he succeeded by placing the columns in a specific way inside.
Church of the Ascension, Attica

Ταξίδια στην Ελλάδα
Naxos: Three orthodox treasures!
Olympus: The village of Greece where women have the first say
Kipina Monastery: The monastery that is wedged in the rock
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Frequently Asked Questions
The five strangest churches in Greece featured in this guide are: Panagia Kakaviotissa church on Lemnos Island (built inside a cave with no roof), Agia Theodora church in Arcadia with 17 trees growing on its roof, Agia Fotini church in Mantineia with unique mixed architecture, Panagia Parigoritissa church in Arta with a floating dome design, and the Church of the Ascension in Attica (also called Trypti Church), which is built inside a cave.
Agia Theodora church in Arcadia, Peloponnese is famous for having 17 trees growing on its roof. The trees reach up to 20 meters in height and are watered by running water next to the church. This unique feature has earned the church a place in the Guinness Book of Records as a 'wonderful nave.'
Panagia Kakaviotissa church, located on Mount Kakavos on Lemnos Island, is the unique outdoor church in Greece with no roof. Built around 1,300 inside a cave among imposing rocks, it was constructed as a refuge for monks escaping Turkish raids. The church consists of only walls built within the cave structure.
Agia Fotini church in Mantineia stands out for its peculiar and unclassifiable architecture that combines elements of ancient Greece with Christian design. Founded in 1969 and inaugurated in 1978, its uniqueness comes from the diversity of materials used and the particular way it was constructed, making it distinctive both externally and internally.
The dome of Panagia Parigoritissa church in Arta appears to be floating, an architectural design choice by the master builder. The dome, which features a mosaic of Pantocrator, was positioned to be visible from the church's entrance by placing columns in a specific arrangement inside the structure, creating the illusion of a floating dome.










