The magnificent and historic Holy Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos is designated as a monumental sacred church by the Archaeological Service of Kavala. It stands imposingly on the northwestern side of the historic settlement of Panagia, which used to be the island’s capital, and is the most imposing sacred church in Thassos.

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It is a Byzantine-style three-aisled basilica with a dome, consisting of two rows of columns that divide the building into three aisles. Each row consists of seven columns. At the center of the church stands the dome with the Pantocrator (Christ Almighty). Around it, there are small windows that facilitate lighting and offer a spiritual atmosphere of devotion.

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The narthex is unified with the church on the western side and is separated from the corresponding aisles on the right and left by latticework, creating two additional spaces called the “grigitika.” According to tradition and history, these spaces were where the elderly women, who could not climb the stairs leading to the women’s gallery (gynakonitis), would stand. The “grigitika” are dedicated to Saints Charalambos and Venerable Irene Chrysovalantou.

From the “grigitika,” stairs lead to the women’s gallery, which is approximately 50 square meters and is located above the narthex. It is worth noting that in the northern “grigitiko,” dedicated to Saint Charalambos, there is a baptismal sink (choneutirio) over 200 years old, where water from baptisms and any sacred remnants of mysteries or ceremonies that should not be trodden upon are poured.

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The dimensions of the church are 27.50 meters in length, 18.60 meters in width, and 18 meters in height including the dome. Tradition holds that there was a plan to raise the building by 80–100 cm, and for this reason, horizontal iron bars exist at the same height in the women’s gallery and the rest of the church. Apparently, for financial reasons, the elevation was never completed.

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What imparts a special solemnity and grandeur to the church is the exquisitely crafted wooden iconostasis, completed in 1881 by artists from Volos. Specifically, the inscription reads: “By the hand of Apostolos A. Athanasopoulos from Volos, from Agios Georgios, August 24, 1881.”

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What moves and simultaneously calms the pilgrim is the church’s courtyard. A space filled with shady trees, a garden, and flooring that combines marble (krystallina) and traditional stone — elements befitting the village of Panagia. At one part of this courtyard are the village cemeteries. Tradition holds that the church granted this land to the community so the sacred cemeteries could be established. This created a direct and daily connection between the inhabitants and our departed brothers and sisters, who remain alive with souls, hearing, praying, needing our prayers, thinking, loving, and awaiting our mercy.