A carved wooden sanctuary door from a post-Byzantine church in northern Greece is now displayed at the Byzantine Museum of Veria, offering insight into 16th-century religious art and craftsmanship. The piece originates from the iconostasis of the Church of Saint Demetrios in Palatitsia, Imathia, and is exhibited in the museum's section dedicated to Veria within the Byzantine world.
The double door depicts the Annunciation, a central event in Orthodox Christianity, celebrated annually on 25 March. The Archangel Gabriel announces to the Virgin Mary the forthcoming birth of Christ. The figures are set against a gold background, a common feature of Byzantine iconography.
On the left panel, Gabriel appears in motion, holding a sceptre symbolising divine authority and raising his hand in a blessing gesture. On the right, the Virgin Mary stands before a carved throne, slightly turned towards the angel, her hand raised in a gesture described by the accompanying text as expressing awe and dialogue. An inscription from the Gospel of Luke reads: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38).
The composition also includes symbolic elements, such as the Holy Spirit, represented as a dove descending from a segment of the sky, alongside inscriptions identifying the figures and the scene. The carved wooden surfaces are decorated with geometric and floral motifs on coloured backgrounds, reflecting the artistic and liturgical traditions of the period.
The work is attributed to Nikolaos of Linotopi in Kastoria, who led a workshop active in the church between 1569 and 1570. According to museum information, the door may have been crafted in the wider Ohrid region, where similar woodcarving styles have been identified, before being painted locally. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to appreciate the devotional significance and craftsmanship of these objects, which hold spiritual meaning for Orthodox communities in the region.
