64 gigantic rocks
rise perpendicularly from the ground on the western edge of the plain
of Thessaly in the heart of northern Greece. These ancient pinnacles
etched by wind and rain echoed the chants of the ascetic community of
Meteora, home of monks who live in monasteries and chapels perched precariously
upon the rocks. Meteora stands on the plain of Thessaly beside the village
of Kastraki around 26 km (16 m) north of Trikala and 375 km (234 m)
northwest of Athens. The grey monolithic rocks stand in front of the
Pindos Mountains.
The impressive rocks are composed of a mixture of sandstone and hard gravel called conglomerate. Formed 60 million years ago as the bed of sea, which we now know, as the plain of Thessaly. Seismatic movements thrust the sea bed upwards to create a high plateau and split the thick layer of sandstone into innumerable faults. Wind, water and extreme temperatures wore away the fractured sandstone creating the pillars, which are now known as “the rocky forest of Greece”. Hermits and religious ascetics first inhabited the rocky pinnacles, which reach 550 m (1.800 ft) tall, during the 9th century.
The hollows in the rocks offered shelter from
the elements and the sheer cliffs deterred casual visitors from
interrupting their sail searching and prayers. By the end of the
12th century they had become a loose-knit community which respected
the ideas of solitude. The Byzantine Empire by the 14th century
was beginning to lose its hold. The plain of Thessaly became a battleground
between Serbian Kings and Turkish raiders all vying for supremacy
of northern Greece. The peaceful monastic communities were particularly
vulnerable to the conflicts and in 1334 the monastery of Mount Athos
to the southeast of Thessalonica was abandoned. Ten years later
the monk Athanasios led a group of fugitives to Meteora and between
1356 and 1372, on the Broad Rock pinnacle; the Great Meteoron monastery
was founded. A long ladder provided the only route to the top, which
the monks drew up whenever threatened. As the original dwellings
were inadequate due to the increasing number of monks larger and
more impressive buildings were begun. The ladder was replaced by
a net and rope operated via a windlass from an overhanging gantry.
Visitors to the Great Monastery named from the Greek word “ high
in the air ” were advised to pray as they made the nerve - wracking
ascent. This precarious method has now been replaced by 115 steps.
Meteora Tour
Meteora-this city of Monastic Life of Rocks- stands
as the most important and the largest centre of Orthodox Monasticism
in Greece, after Mt. Athos. This stone forest of rocks constitutes
one of the most wonderful and impressive geological phenomena on
our planet. The most common theory holds the view, that the formation
of the rocks was due to the prior existence of a delta shaped cone
comprising of river stones and mud, which poured into the ancient
Thessaly basin. After the geological separation of the masses of
Olympus as well as Ossa, the waters of the basin found an outlet
into the Aegean through the Tempi area. Then the delta shaped mass
(by the effect of earthquakes, wind and rain for millions of years)
broke-up into stones and huge solid rocks up to 400 meters high.
Do not miss the sunset photo tour
Meteora Tour
Meteora has been recognized as a protected Monument for Humanity by UNESCO and other international Organizations and that it must be maintained as such for bearing witness to Christian, historical, architectural, agiographic ( and generally artistic) and geological evidence. The area of Meteora, since October 1995 by civil law( 2531/11.10.95) and in following relative decision by the Synod of the Church of Greece in 1990- was declared: holy ground, unchangeable and an violated, a fact, which secures its Orthodox authenticity and effective protection.
MONASTERY OF GRAND
METEORON: On the highest and
largest in area rock of Meteora stands the monastery for men
of Grand Meteoron which was built around 1340 by St. Athanasios
of Meteora - a great personality in monastic life, who organized
the first coenobium at Meteora. The visitor to the monastery
can enjoy: The Tower (1520), which has the dominating feature
of the balcony with the net, the Cellar (today a folk museum
showing old tools and implements), the dinning room(1557, today
a museum of relics of the Monastery), the Kitchen (1557, today
a museum exhibiting old copper, earthen and wooden utensils).
There still exist, through not shown to the Public, the Hospital
with care for the aged ( 1572, today under reconstruction and
refitting) and the chapels of Theometoros ( Our Lady of Meteoritissas
Petras, 14th century), John the Baptist( early 17th century),
Sts Constantine and Helena (1789) and St. Nektarios. The Monastery
is the guardian of manuscript codes of great artistic value
such as gold-seals, patriarchal vestments and other manuscripts,
valuable historic documents, rare old scripts (14th and 15th
cent.), old hand made artistry such as wood carvings, gold-embroidery,
silver etc.
Meteora Tour
MONASTERY OF VARLAAM : Impressive, but much smaller in area, very near the great Platylithos, stands the rock of the monastery for men of Varlaam, which according to tradition was first occupied by the ascetic Varlaam in the 14 century. It was founded in 1517/18, when the brothers Theophanes (1544) and Nektarios (1550) the Apsarades from Ioannina settled there. The majestic Catholicon of the monastery is of the type as found on Mt Athos and is dedicated to all Saints, built in 1542. The main Church was painted in 1548 by the Theban painter Frangos Catelanos and it has all the characteristics attributed to his work descriptive detail and analysis of historic events with vivid realism. The Narthex was painted in 1566 by the look-alike brothers and Theban painters George and Frankos Contares. The chapel of the thtree Hierarchs, a tiny Church, was built in 1627 and was painted in1637 with general characters painted in post- Byzantine agiography . Other buildings are the Dining room (today a museum) and the Hospital. At the end of 16 century, the most well organized bibliographical workshop was functioning, best amongst all others at Meteora, plus a workshop foe gold embroidery.
MONASTERY OF HOLY
TRINITY: On a characteristically
meteoric rock stands proud and grad, as if a nest, the superb
Monastery for men of Holy Trinity. It is said, that it was built
in 1438 by monk Dometios. The main Church was built around 1476
and is a two-pillar crossed temple roofed by a central dome.
The present wall paintings of the church (1741) is the work
of the brothers and painters abbe Anthony and Nicolaos which
although more modern it continues successfully the tradition
of good post- Byzantine school of art. Inside the church is
featured Christ Pantokrator and in the spherical triangles the
four Evangelists. the old wood carved templum renowned for its
old and art's-sake icons was stolen in 1979. The large dome
covered inner narthex was constructed in 1689 and was painted
in 1692. The chapel of St. John the Baptist- a small circular
temple with dome is carved into the rock- presents many worthwhile
icons and was fashioned into the rock in 1862 and painted at
the same time. The remainder of the buildings comprise the Dinning-room,
the cells, reception rooms, water cisterns and other useful
areas.
Meteora Tour
MONASTERY OF SAINT STEPHEN: With a panoramic view across the vast plain of Thessaly and above Kalambaka balances harmoniously the easiest to to get to meteoric Nunnery of St. Stephen's. The small chapel of St. Stephen was built in 1350, in 1545 it was extended and its wall painting were partly renovated by abbe and painter Nicolaos. The present Church of St, Charalambos (1798) is one of the mt. Athos type and decorated with majestic wood carvings. In 1943 the Church was bombed and recently renovated and its still being painting by the well known hagiographer Mr. Vlasis Tsotsones. The holy Scull of St. Charalambos is kept at the Monastery. The sizeable Dining room has been converted into a modern Museum. The Monastery has distinguished itself for considerable help toward the National struggles (it has been the Headquarters of the Command during the Macedonian campaign) through education and culture.
MONASTERY OF ROUSSANOU
(ST. BARBARA): A crown on top
of a steep slim rock in the centre of Meteora this nunnery of
Roussanou converses its entire mountain. It was established
in 1529 by the monks and brothers St. Iosal and Maximus from
Ioannina. It is a beautiful construction, which took the basic
form during the 16th century. The Catholicon and cells are on
the ground floor whereas on higher floors there is the main
lounge for visitors, reception rooms, as well as other areas
for daily use. The Church of Transfiguration of the Lord was
built in 1530 and is of the mt. Athos type. Its agiography (1560)
is one of the most important and brilliant of the post-Byzantine
period
Do not miss the sunset photo tour
Meteora Tour
MONASTERY
OF SAINT NICHOLAS ANAPAFSAS:
Near the village of Kastraki and amongst the ruins of the
monasteries of St John the Baptist, Christ Pantokrator-
stands the multi storey Monastery of St. Anapafsas, elegant
yet on rather restrictive rock, impressive nonetheless Organized
monastic life on the monastery started on 14th century.
At the start of 16th cent. the Monastery was renovated extensively
and the Church of St. Nicolaos was built.
On
the second storey stands the Catholicon of the monastery
( a tiny singularChurch, almost a square, with a small dome
in the centre of the roof) which was painted in 1527 by
the famous painter Theophanes Strelitza, otherwise known
as Bathas and founder of The Cretan School in Byzantine
agiography. On the first storey there is the crypt and chapel
of St. Anthony, on the walls of which there still remain
remnants of old (14 cent) wall paintings. At the top storey
one can see the old Dining room (with wall paintings), which
is used today as a reception hall, the Ossuary and the chapel
of John the Baptist.
You can view our portfolio of photos at www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Meteora-Monasteries Web masters who wish to buy the right to use them in web sites or writers who want to publish them in magazines or newspapers can do this once© and only under the name greecetaxi.gr
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