The temple of Timios Stavros is located 1,5km from the settlement of Doliana and 2km of the community Krania of Aspropotamos. The region of Krania and generally of Pindos, from Aspropotamos to Samarina and from Metsovo to Trikala, is a region with villages where the oldest residents still speak the Vlachs language.

The information that concern the history of the temple are minimal, and what exists comprises the history of the monument from the 19th century and afterwards. The monument was first reported in two documents, in 1839(Firmani) and 1841 (Apantachoysa), that refer to the renovation and reconstruction of the temple.

The temple of Stavros, was an element of the abbey of 1770(1630), which was recorded as an abbey of Saint Nicholas while today the residents of the region call it the Abbey of the Holy Zoni. This abbey was a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The entire temple of Stavros is saved while the other two, as well as, other monuments in the around villages, were destroyed in 1943 by the Germans.

The temple of Stavros is characterized by its distinctive architecture. It consists of the domed and angled temple and the today demolished splint. The main temple is a Basilica Cistern with three semicircle arches in the Eastern side and three arches on each side. The temple is covered with a roof of slate plates, above which are 12 domes. In the interior of the Holy Step there is a throne and Episcopal throne.Owner of the temple, according to lithanaglyph signs is Giannousios Gkougkouzis from the village Bentista (current Amarantos) of Aspropotamos.

Source: Eleni Tsimpida, Archaeologist