6 breathtaking reasons to visit the Meteora monasteries

This could well be one of the most stunning and unique sites in Greece, if not the entire world…

It has rightly been described by inspired visitors over the ages as magical, breathtaking, and impressive to name a few. This serene and spiritual location allows the visitor to feel peace and harmony and to connect with the divine.

Site

These enormous “columns of the sky” located in central Greece, near the town of Kalambaka, host the second largest complex of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Only those of Mount Athos are larger in size. Each monastery is built on the very top of almost inaccessible natural pillars and sandstone peaks.

Geologists explain these rock formations of conglomerate and sandstone were shaped over millions of years by water, wind and extreme temperatures.

History

The first ascetic, hermit monks came to the area in the 9^th century AD. Due to the great height this was an ideal place to hide from the Turkish attacks. They lived in hollows and caverns in the high cliffs. By the late 11^th century the first monastic state had formed around the church of Thetokos.

Around 1350 the first monastery of ”Meteoron” was founded by a group of monks from Mount Athos. The only access was via a rope ladder that they would roll up when they felt threatened. Large nets/baskets were used to hoist up goods and construction material. Needless to say that it took them years to finish building the monastery.

Starting in the 14^th century onwards there were more than 24 monasteries built with extreme difficulty with the purpose to serve Eastern Orthodox monks and nuns. Many were decorated later on with 16th-century frescoes and mark a key stage in the development of post-Byzantine painting.

Present state

Only 6 monasteries are still functioning today. The remaining are largely in ruin. The total monastic population is under 60 comprising about 40 nuns and 20 monks.

These six monasteries are mainly tourist attractions and can be accessed via steps that were carved into the rock during the 1920s.

Monastery of Grand Meteoron is the oldest and largest of the monasteries at Meteora. Built in the 14th century and restored in 1483 and 1552. This one seems like it is suspended in air. Today there are only a few monks still in residence. One of the buildings houses the main museum for tourists.

The Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery in the complex. Built in 1541, by Nectarios and Theophanes. It is said to house the finger of St. John and the shoulder blade of St Andrew.

Today it has the largest number of monks (seven) of the male monasteries and the old refectory is used as a museum. You can still visit the old “net” in which the monks used for their ascent and descent from the rock.

The Monastery of Rousanou/St. Barbara was founded in the middle of the 16th century and restored and decorated in 1560. Today it is a flourishing nunnery with 13 nuns in residence. Here you can admire a different view of the surrounding monasteries and rocks.

The Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas was built in the 16th century. It is on the way towards the Holy Meteora monastery. It has a church with a small dome and decorated by the noted Cretan painter Theophanis Strelitzas in 1527. There was one monk in residence in 2015.

The Monastery of St. Stephen was built in the 16th century. This monastery is easily accessible as it rests on the plain rather than on a cliff. There is a magnificent view of the valley of Thessaly, the Pindos Mountains and the Pinios river.

It was bombed by the Nazis during World War II who believed it was harboring insurgents and was abandoned. In 1961 the nuns took over and they have reconstructed it into a flourishing nunnery, with 28 nuns residing there today. The old refectory has been converted to a museum.

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity was built in 1475 and was remodeled in 1684, 1689, 1692 and 1741. There were four monks in residence in 2015.

This is the most difficult monastery to access as you must traverse the valley and continue high up through the rock. Once you have arrived though, you will be greatly rewarded when you get to the top with the magnificent panoramic view.

The site of Meteora inspired many movies and books as you can see below:

James Bond/For Your Eyes Only- The monastery of Holy Trinity was a filming location in the 1981
Meteora, a 2012 Greek film directed by Spiros Stathoulopoulos is devoted entirely to a story set in the Monastery of the Holy Trinity
Tintin and the Golden Fleece- Many scenes shot at the monasteries.
Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life– Michina, the main setting of the movie is based on Meteora.
The Spook’s Sacrifice, by author Joseph Delaney– Meteora is the main location in the fiction book
Tomb Raider and Tomb Raider: Anniversary-The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas was an inspiration for the monastery of Francis Folly, in the first level of Greece in both games
World War Z– One of the surviving characters in Max Brooks‘s zombie apocalypse novel finds refuge and peace of mind in the monasteries during and after the zombie war.
Le Décalogue by French author Frank Giroud is the Primary location and name of Volume 3 in this comic book series
Game of Thrones– The Eyrie of Vale of the House of Arryn from is based on Meteora
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 DLC – The Map “Sanctuary” is set in the monasteries of the Meteora.
The 2003 albumby Linkin Park takes its name from the site.
Sky Ridersstarring Susannah York, James Coburn and Robert Culp-The monasteries were a filming location for the 1976 action movie
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episode “Travels with Father”, Indiana and his father visit Meteora.