Milies of Pelion is a favorite destination for its beauty, but also for its peculiarities. After all, it is the terminus of the now legendary “Moutzouri”, i.e. the train of Pelion that climbs its verdant slopes.

However, the uniqueness of Milia goes even further and is famous for the special and unique in Greece church of Taxiarches located in the town square.

It is unknown when the temple was built, but it is certain that it was renovated in 1741 because an inscription on the right side of the temple testifies to this.

From an architectural point of view, the temple of Taxiarches is a simple building since it does not look like a church, as its exterior resembles a simple house based on the traditional Pelion architecture.

The interpretation given is that the Miliotians and the masons who built the temple wanted to hide it, so that it would not be a target during the Turkish occupation.

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There is a complete absence of religious symbols on the outside of the church of the Grand Commanders, while the style of the church is a three-aisled basilica with 12 hidden domes and consists of the pronaos and the main church. The church is not two-story since there is also the chapel of All Saints.

Inside the temple there are incredible surprises, the most important being the special acoustics due to 48 jars integrated in an upside down position in the ceiling and 5 communicating wells that all resonate like speakers.

Of exceptional, but also unique interest is the icon painting, which was probably done by an unknown Agiorite monk, while the gilded linden iconostasis was made by Epirote craftsmen.

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But the biggest surprise is in the pronaos, since the visitor will see paintings that correspond to the zodiac and are referred to as “the wheel of time” or “rota fortunae”, i.e. “wheel of fortune”.

This is a performance that is not found in Orthodox churches,

In the church of the Taxiarchs in Milies it is inscribed as “The Vain Life of the Flat World”. The painting includes three concentric circles, in the center of which the Vain World is depicted in the form of a crowned king on a throne.

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Michalis Papas, who has lived in Milies since he was a child, for 55 years has been a tour guide and caretaker in the church of the Pammegist Taxiarches, speaking to APE-MPE he explained that “the creator of the performance is considered to be an unknown Agioreite monk, who painted the church on 33 years in the standards of the teaching he engaged during his stay in the Orchard of Panagia, i.e. Mount Athos.

The wheel is divided into three concentric circles, in the center is depicted the Vain World in the form of a crowned earthly king seated on a royal throne. In the second inner circle the four seasons are depicted with anthropomorphic characters. Spring is depicted at the top and appears as a handsome seated youth, casually playing his lyre. Summer is represented by a bright sun that forces the depicted reaper to wear a hat, while Autumn is represented by a middle-aged man with his lambs and a shepherd’s staff, while Winter is represented by an elderly man dressed in fur who stretches out his hands towards the fire to warm up”.

“In the last, third inner circle, the twelve signs are illustrated and named with the corresponding months, with little deviation from the astronomical scientific zodiac. On the outer side and around the circle of the Wheel there are seven male figures in various positions, which correspond to the evolutionary phases of human life, starting with birth where the soul appears pure like a white angel” said Michalis Papas, who knows temple better than anyone else.