Red Church (Vourgareli)

The Red Church (Greek: Κόκκινη Εκκλησιά) is a Byzantine church from c. 1280 in the village of Vourgareli in the Tzoumerka region of Greece.[1]

Red Church
Religion
Affiliation	Church of Greece
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	monument
Year consecrated	c. 1280
Location
Location	Vourgareli, Greece
Geographic coordinates	39°21′17″N 21°11′10″E
Architecture
Completed	c. 1280

It was founded as the katholikon of a monastery by the brothers John and Theodore Tzimiskes, who held the rank of protostrator.[1] The church was originally dedicated to the birth of the Theotokos, but became known as the "Red Church" due to the colour of its masonry. Historically, it was also known as "Panagia of Vella" (Παναγία Βελλάς), as it was a metochi of the Vella Monastery, and as "Royal Monastery" (Βασιλομονάστηρο), due to its importance.[1]

Due to their strong similarity, it has been suggested that the church was built by the same workshop that erected the Theotokos Peribleptos church (also known as St. Clement) in Ohrid in 1295.[2]