ΕΠΙΣΚΕΥΗ, ΣΥΝΤΗΡΗΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΣΙΑ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΜΕΤΑΒΥΖΑΝΤΙΝΩΝ ΝΑΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΥ ΕΒΡΟΥ

The study concerns to the identification, documentation, description and execution of urgent works, which must be carried out (to be performed ) for the maintenance, restoration and protection of the post-Byzantine churches of Agios Athanasios in Metaxades, Agios Panteleimonas in Paliouri and Agios Athanasios in Alepochori as well as to the assessment of the expenditure required for these works. (It's about) These are three of the few remaining churches in the northern Evros area of the post-Byzantine period, which were built before the 19th century. With load-bearing masonry and tiled roofs, these buildings, without windows, are austere on the outside, but with rich and interesting wall paintings on the inside. Unpublished as monuments and almost unknown in scientific research and study, but with excellent scientific interest and great cultural value, are in bad condition due to both their age and poor maintenance and inaccurate or incompatible interventions. Therefore, important and crucial maintenance work is required to preserve, restore and protect these monuments. The church of Agios Athanasios in Alepochori is in a much better condition than the other two. It is the only one of the three in which a wooden suspended ceiling exists (newer construction, covers the entire area of the church), while the works required for its maintenance and restoration can be characterized as comparatively less urgent. This study deals mainly with the churches of Agios Athanasios in Metaxades and Agios Panteleimonas in Paliouri, including architectural and structural recognition and documentation, description and documentation of the pathology of damages and determination of the proposed works. For the church of Agios Athanasios in Alepochori, it is only recommended to remove the ceiling, work necessary for the documentation and further study of the monument and determination of required works for its maintenance and protection.