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Voila: The church of Saint George

A church dedicated to both Saint George and Saint Ioannis Theologos is located a few meters from the deserted settlement of Voila. It is estimated to have been constructed between the late 1500s and early 1600s.

The architectural type of the church has emerged as a result of the successive interpolations to the original, single-nave church of Saint George. The south transept was expanded towards the west, followed by the addition of the north transept of Saint George. The two transepts of the church are connected with large arched openings. The south transept is slightly elevated compared to the rest of the temple. It is believed that it was modified in order to house the graves of the donors. 

In the south wall, there is an arcosolium (i.e. arched recess used as a place of entombment) which holds a timeworn representation of the enthroned Virgin and Child alongside the donors, members of the Salomon family, on its drum. According to the two inscriptions, George Salomon was buried there in 1518 and other members of the family in 1560. Greeceā€™s national poet, Dionysios Solomos is allegedly descended from this family.