Church · Ligkiades, Ioannina
A stone church on the balcony of Ioannina
High on the slope of Mitsikeli, above Lake Pamvotida, the village church of Saint George keeps a history that goes back to the 17th century, and the wide view over the lake that Ligkiades is known for.
Ligkiades is the first village of Zagori you reach from Ioannina, a short drive up the mountain. The church stands by the village square, a calm stone setting for the ceremony before the celebration moves down to the lake or the city.
This page brings together what we could confirm from public sources, with photos from a real wedding held here. For dates and the paperwork a church wedding needs, contact the parish directly.
At a glance
At a glance
- Location
- Ligkiades, Municipality of Ioannina, on the southern slope of Mount Mitsikeli (about 940 m)
- Distance
- About 13 km from Ioannina, roughly 20 minutes by car
- Church
- Orthodox parish church of Saint George, Holy Metropolis of Ioannina
- History
- Monastery of the 17th century; the present church was built in 1899
- Feast day
- 23 April, with vespers on the eve (moved to Easter Monday when 23 April falls before Easter)
- Parish
- Fr. Georgios Koutsogiannakis, +30 698 221 7980 (as listed by the Holy Metropolis of Ioannina, checked October 2026)
The church on a wedding day
The stone entrance of the church, dressed with sunflowers for a wedding day. Styling by Lab Lou Events.
History
Ligkiades has been tied to Saint George for more than three centuries. In the 17th century a monastery dedicated to the saint stood here, one of the spiritual centres of Epirus at the time. Tradition and village sources name the scholar-monk Vissarion Makris, one of the most learned men of Ottoman-era Ioannina, as its founder; according to the same sources, he died at the monastery in 1699.
The old church was rebuilt in the 1680s. In 1899 the villagers took down the small earlier church and built the present, larger one. That is why many still call it «the monastery» (Moni), even though today it serves as the parish church.
The village and the view
The village sits at about 940 metres on the southern slope of Mount Mitsikeli, which is why it is often called the «balcony» of Ioannina: from the edge of the village you look out over the lake, its island and the city.
Its history also carries a heavy memory. On 3 October 1943 German troops burned Ligkiades and killed 82 villagers, most of them women, children and elderly people. A marble memorial with their names stands on the square next to the church, and the village was rebuilt after the war.
Map and directions
Saint George is in the centre of Ligkiades (postal code 455 00). Coordinates: 39.69045, 20.88892.
Getting married at Saint George
Church weddings in Ligkiades are arranged with the parish, under the Holy Metropolis of Ioannina. We do not take bookings and cannot confirm availability. Before you plan the day, ask the parish:
- which dates are free, especially around the feast of Saint George in April;
- which documents the Metropolis asks for, and how far ahead;
- what decoration is allowed at the entrance and inside the church;
- whether photos and video are allowed during the ceremony;
- where guests can park and how a car reaches the church entrance.
Parish contact as listed by the Holy Metropolis of Ioannina (checked October 2026): Fr. Georgios Koutsogiannakis, +30 698 221 7980.
A real wedding at this church
How this guide works: IgoumenitsaSTAY is an independent travel guide. We are not a wedding planner, an agency or a booking platform, and we take no commission. Church details come from public sources, including the Holy Metropolis of Ioannina; check them with the parish before you plan. The photos are from a real wedding at the church and are published with permission.
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