At the entrance of Velvento, lies the small single transept byzantine church of Agios Minas. It is a wooden roofed church, with a newer narthex and an open gallery, at the southern side. We should point out that it has been built on paleochristian baths. The space has also operated in later periods as a cemetery, as disclosed by the repeated box shaped and mostly shaft graves.
The church was built in two phases. The arch and the eastern wall are dated at the end of 12th and the beginning of the 13th century, as disclosed by the masonry and the mural decoration. After a disaster that can be connected with the occupation of the area by the Turks at the end of 14th century, the western wall, the southern wall and possibly the upper part of the northern wall (higher than 1,5 m) belong to the 15th century. The lowest part is characterized by the limestone masonry of the previous building, which extends to the east, forming a square space that was maybe used as a water tank. The church’s interior is full of murals that belong to two periods and more specifically at the beginning of the 13th and 15th century respectively.
The murals of Annunciation and Transfiguration on the eastern wall of the church and possibly the Praying Mary, on the arch are saved from the first period. The 15th century murals are extended in two zones. At the upper, we find the most important scenes of the Twelve Feasts, the Passions and the incidents before the Resurrection, while at the lowest one can see whole body saints’ icons.
