A religious painting missing from a Florida church for 103 years has been found hanging in a church in Greece, according to the mayor of Tarpon Springs.

Mayor John Koulianos told Fox 13 Tampa Bay he met the mayor of Aegina, the Greek island, during a trip in July. The Aegina mayor called a local priest, who knew where the painting was. Koulianos found it hanging on the back wall of Panagitsa Church. Fox 13 describes it as Byzantine artwork.

In a Facebook post, Koulianos said immigrants from Aegina gave the icon of St Nicholas to the original St Nicholas Greek Church in Tarpon Springs in 1910. It was damaged in a fire and sent back to Greece in 1923 for restoration, but was never returned.

Koulianos said the July trip was also meant to complete a twinning ceremony between Tarpon Springs and Aegina, as well as to try to locate the icon.

Officials have not confirmed whether Greek Orthodox bishops in both countries will authorise its return.