St Athanasius of Mouzaki (Greek: Άγιος Αθανάσιος του Μουζάκη) is a Greek Orthodox church located in Kastoria, Greece.[1][2] It was built in 1386–87 by the house of Muzaka, a noble Albanian family that controlled the city between 1380-1385, and dedicated to St. Athanasius[1][2] It is considered one of the most important monuments of 14th century Kastoria and is the last church built in Kastoria before its annexation by the Ottoman Empire.[2]
The church is decorated with scenes of saints dressed in Byzantine clothing, a typical feature of Byzantine iconography. An unusual feature of the church is that despite the fact that St Alexander is traditionally not included among the ranks of military saints,[3] the church of St Athanasius of Mouzaki is decorated with a portrait of St Alexander in military clothing. Another feature, atypical in Byzantine iconography, is the depiction of Virgin Mary as a queen.[4]
The church influenced greatly the artistic production of Kastoria and the region of Macedonia in the late 14th and early 15th century.[5]