Wonders
of the world? Indeed they are! On the highest plateau of the Meteora rocks, with
an altitude of 613m, the most representative of all the assembly is the
Great Meteora monastery, dedicated to the Transfiguration.
The
founder of this monastery was St. Athanasius of Meteora, and he came here from
Mount
Athos. He founded a small hermitage on a rock that turned into a Lavra in
1344 and it remained faimous until today. He began construction of the Transfiguration
Church, and Simeon Ioasaf subsequently finished it. This church is the oldest
and most impressive of all the Meteora assembly. Inside, the monastery is carved
with interior frescoes of high artistic quality, belonging to the cretan school
students, reaching its peak in the XVI century.
Tourists
from all over the world come here every year to visit this wonder of the world
and to pray to God.
Situated
on the peak of a huge rock, the monastery of Saint
Nicholas Anapafsas shines over the Meteora rocks. The first monastic settlement
here dates from the XIV century. But the real founder was St. Dionysius the Merciful,
in the early sixteenth century. Currently, the small monastery has only a few
monks.
The
Monastery of St. Stephen is the oldest monastic settlement on Mount Meteora.
It was founded in 1192 by Jeremiah hermit. In 1333, Andronikos III Palaiologos
renovated it, taking her under his protection. The old church dedicated to St.
Stephen Archdeacon was built in 1350, but then it became too small, it was also
built a large church (1798) dedicated to Saint Haralambos. Since 1961 the monastery
was turned into chinovie nuns. The monastery museum houses many precious objects
of worship. It can be seen a Byzantine codex since 1404, and Anthony donated it
to Filoti Cantacuzino.
The
Holy Trinity Monastery rises above high steep cliffs. It was founded in 1438 by
Dometic hermit. The church was built in 1476 and the interior fresco dates from
1741. Access to this monastery is using the rope adder or netting wheel path with
a drum and pulley.
The
nearest major town is Kalambaka
(from the Turkish word for "pinnacle"), at the base of the Meteora,
which has accommodation for overnight visitors as well as some medieval churches.
Neighboring Kastraki has some accommodation as well.
Alternatively,
a guided day tour from Athens is a popular and easy way to visit. To visit all
six in one day without joining a tour, begin with Ayiou Nikolaou Anapavsa, Varlaam
and Great
Meteoron before 1pm, break for lunch while the monasteries are closed, then
see Roussanou,
Ayias Triadhos and Ayiou Stefanou in the afternoon. A strict dress code is enforced:
all shoulders must be covered, men must wear long trousers and women must wear
long skirts.
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Wonders
of the world? Indeed they are! On the highest plateau of the Meteora rocks, with
an altitude of 613m, the most representative of all the assembly is