Meteora is one of the biggest monasterycomplexes situated on the northwestern edge of Thessaly Mountains and close to PindusMountains. In 1988 the Meteora, is home to six monasteries, was included onthe UNESCO World Heritage List. All the monasteries are on the hills of therock formations. Nowadays only six monasteries remained:
- The HolyMonastery of Great Meteoron
- The Holy Monasteryof Varlaam
- The Holy Monasteryof Rousanou
- TheHoly Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas
- The HolyMonastery of St. Stephen
- The Monastery ofHoly Trinity
Therocks of 600 m seem to be like a miracle. These rocks were formed more than 60million years ago and were the stone shadow of the prehistorically sea. Owingto the water, wind and temperature changes, the stony columns were formed namedMeteora ("librating in the air").
Hermitsstarted to live on the slopes of Pindus Mountainsin 12th century. The founder of two main monasteries, SaintAfanasius, started living here since 1360. It is not easy even to imagine howwas the building of the monasteries in the slopes and top of the mountains.In 15th-16th centuries Thessalywas captured by the Turkish army and the monasteries were also captured.Nowadays only six monasteries remained and the rest of them disappeared. Until1920 it was very difficult to reach the monasteries, it was practicallyimpossible. They say they used ropes so as to pick up all the buildingmaterials, food and other necessary stuff. After the First World War a lot oftourists were interested in monasteries and there were built roads and stairsup to the monasteries.
MeteoraMonasteries remind us more museums than real monastery complex.
TheHoly Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas
TheHoly Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas is the first monastery on theway from Kastraki to Meteora. The catholicon dedicated to Saint Nicholas isthe single-nave church with small dome built in the beginning of the 16thcentury. It was decorated by the Cretan painter Steophanis Strelitzas in1527.
The Holy Monasteryof Rousanou
The HolyMonastery of Rousanou is dedicated to 'TheTransfiguration' but honored to Saint Barbara. The 'Catholicon', in theAthonite type, was founded in the middle of 16th c. and decorated in 1560.Both, the Catholicon and the reception halls are in the ground floor whilethe 'archontariki', cells and subsidiary rooms are scattered in the basementand the first floor.
The HolyMonastery of Varlaam
The HolyMonastery of Varlaam is thesecond largest monastery in the Metéora complex. It was founded in 1517 by Theothanes and Nectaries Apsarades and named inhonor of the bishop Varlaam. He built three churches, a small cell and awater tank. After his death the rock remained abandoned for about 200 years.When two brothers Theathanes and Nectaries Apsarades found the rockabandoned, they started to construct the first building from the beginning.They renovated the little church of the Three Hierarchs and erected thetower. They also built the central church of the monastery dedicated to allSaints.
The HolyMonastery of Great Meteoron
The HolyMonastery of Great Meteoron built on an imposing rock, is the oldest, the biggest and the mostimportant among the monasteries of Meteora which are preserved today. It wasfounded little before the mid-14th century (around 1340) by ascholar monk of Mount Athos, SaintAthanasios Meteorites. In the beginning, he built on the rock a church to theMother of God. He also dedicated the monastery (the Monastery of the VirginMary of Meteora rock-Petra-)to her. Besides, he built cells so that the monks who began to concentratethere could live. Then, he built another church honored to theTransfiguration of Christ. This church constituted the monastery catholiconand the definitive name of the monastery attributes to this church.
The Monastery ofHoly Trinity
The Monastery of Holy Trinity is situated at one the mostimpressive rocks in Meteora. Until1362 it has been the organized monastery and the catholic was built in1456-1476. The present frescos were created by brothers Antony and Nikolas in 1741. The manuscriptsof the Holy monastery are kept in the sacristy of the Holy monastery of SaintStephen.
The HolyMonastery of St. Stephen
The HolyMonastery of St. Stephen was male initially, but since 1961 becamethe sisterhood. The founders of the monastery are Holy Antony and HolyPhilotheos who in the middle of the 16th century rebuilt the church of St. Stephen. Under of Bishop StagiPaisios and abbot Ambrosios, the present catholic was built in the honor ofSaint Caralambos. The frescos at the catholic are created by VlasisTsotsonis. The Holy Convent of Saint Stephen became the museum with theremarkable and rich collection ofmanuscripts, icons and sacred heirlooms.
