The church of Saint Athanasios, on the outskirts of Aphidnes, is dated to Post-Byzantine times, probably the seventeenth century. It is a relatively small example of the single-space dromical type with dome. The built iconostasis and almost the entire surface of the interior were covered with wall-paintings. The church had been constructed on top of an earlier building, which was revealed in the course of excavations at the site. The monument presented considerable damage due to time, as well as to later makeshift interventions. Its religious and historical importance for the local community and the need to protect it prompted restoration works, after approval of the necessary studies. The study for the conservation of the decoration and of the stonework of the church was prepared by the Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Recent Monuments. The Non-profit Civil Company AEGEAS undertook the preparation of the study for consolidation and restoration, and funded the works of its implementation, which were carried out under the supervision of the Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica. This involved cleaning the surfaces of the church of later whitewash coats, consolidating the load-bearing structure, replacing the roof tiling with handmade tiles, fitting new door and window frames, and laying a new floor. In the interior of the church, the removal of the later coats uncovered fragments of wall-paintings, which were conserved. Last, mild interventions were made to the surrounding space, so as to preserve the picturesque aspect of a rural chapel.
