Saint Mary's Church, Leusë

Saint Mary's Church in Leusa, Përmet, is one of the outstanding cultural heritage monuments in the Gjirokastra area. Its construction begins in the 18th century, however the earliest structure dates back to the period of Emperor Justinian, i.e. in the 6th century. The church has a structured plan that includes narthex, naos, altar area, vestibule and chapel.

The narthex is entered from the west side and contains two floors separated by two arches, supported by six pillars arranged in two rows. On the second floor, the entrance is via the stairs in the south-west corner and this floor is lighted by two windows on the north side.
From the narthex, the nave is entered through a doorway in the west wall flanked by two windows on its sides. In the nave, the structure of three naves separated by two high arches, supported by four pillars and a pilaster on the eastern side of each nave, attracts attention. This structure forms the basis for the dome of the church with its vault and spherical domes. The side naves are covered with spherical domes, while the central nave has a cylindrical vault and is supported by the arches of the transverse arcades.
The dome of the church is located in the middle space with a narrow and high drum, which is supported by several spherical triangles. The drum has twelve narrow windows to illuminate the interior of the nave.

The altar environment includes the beam with the apse covered with a cylindrical vault, as well as the prothesis and the diaconicon. The connection between the nave and the altar area is made through a wooden iconostasis, which has great artistic value. The altar area is lit by three windows on the east side and one on the north side.
The porch, a later addition to the church, is open on the north side and is plastered on stone pillars, providing a space for sitting. Sofas are placed on the sides of the wall to provide a suitable space for prayer and reflection.