A
rare geological phenomenon, a quirk of nature as it were, created
these looming rocks which thrust skywards from the plain of Thessaly,
as if striving to come closer to God. These peculiarly impressive
natural sculptures are known as Meteora because they do indeed
seem to hang or hover (meteoro in Greek) above the plain. Their
summits, totally isolated from the rest of the world, were a refuge
for many hermits from as early as the 11th century. Three hundred
years later the first monasteries were founded. Most of the monasteries
were built or renovated in the 16th century. Nowadays six are
in use. In olden days one reached the inaccessible peaks in a
basket drawn up by the monks operating a windlass. Today a good
road leads from Kalambaka to the monasteries with their wonderful
wall paintings, ecclesiastical treasures, rich libraries with
precious manuscripts, exquisite icons.
The
monasteries, in order as the visitor ascends to Meteora from Kalambaka,
are:
Monastery
of Aghios Nikolaos Anapafsas
Founded around 1500 by the Metropolitan of Larissa, Dionyssios,
it is named after an old patron, Anapafsas. The katholikon,
of cruciform plan with wide narthex, was decorated with wall
paintings in 1537, by the renowned Cretan iconographer Theophanes
Bathas-Strelitzas.
Information: tel.: (04320) 77.392.
Roussanou
Monastery
Founded in 1545 by the Epirote brothers Joasaph and Maximos,
who built the monastery church upon the ruins of an earlier
one dedicated to the Metamorphosis tou Sotiros (Transfiguration
of the Saviour). Its name is probably due to an earlier hermit
founder. The katholikon is of Athonite type, of cruciform plan
with high dome. It is decorated with wall paintings of outstanding
art (1561), a gilded woodcarved iconostasis, noteworthy panel
icons and icon-stands (proskynetaria).
Information: tel.: (04320) 22.649.
Varlaam
Monastery
Founded in 1517 by the brothers Theophanes and Nektarios Apsaradas
from Ioannina. However, the first to establish a monastery was
the ascetic anchorite Varlaam, after whom it is named. The katholikon,
dedicated to the Aghii Pantes (All Saints), was adorned with
wall paintings in 1548 by the well-known Post-byzantine iconographer
Frangos Katelanos; it was renovated in 1780. The monastery houses
an important collection of valuable codices, reliquaries, intricately
carved wooden crosses, gold-embroidered epitaphioi, icons and
other ecclesiastical treasures.
Information: tel.: (04320) 75.386.
Megalo
Meteoro (Metamorphosis)
The first church of the Metamorphosis (Transfiguration) was
founded by Athanasios, surnamed the Meteorite – one of
the outstanding figures of Orthodox monasticism – before
1382 and was completed by the monk Joasaph. The katholikon is
in the Byzantine order with a twelve-sided dome at the center,
24 m high. Its decoration with wall paintings commenced in 1484;
it was renovated in 1545 and adorned with new wall paintings
in 1552. These last are among the loveliest works of Post-byzantine
mural art, executed by the great Cretan iconographer Theophanes.
There are also many notable panel icons of the 14th and 16th
centuries. The refectory houses the monastery’s museum
collection.
Information: tel.: (04320) 22.278.
Aghia
Triada Monastery
Founded by the monk Dometius in the 15th century. The church
was decorated with wall paintings in the 18th century, by the
brothers Antonios and Nikolaos. On the way up the 140 rock-hewn
steps to the monastery, one passes the chapel of Aghios loannis
o Prodromos (Saint John the Baptist), with wall paintings dated
1682.
Information: tel.: (04320) 77.123.
Convent
of Aghios Stephanos
The only convent at Meteora, with an unimpeded view over the
plain towards Kalambaka. It is not known when the old church
was founded, but the present katholikon, dedicated to Aghios
Haralambos, was built in 1798. The saint’s skull, a gift
to the nunnery from Prince Vladislav of Wallachia, is kept here.
The church of Aghios Stephanos is an aisleless, timber-roofed
basilica, adorned with wall-paintings executed in 1545 by the
priest loannis from Stagoi. The convent houses precious ecclesiastical
treasures.
Information: tel.: (04320) 22.279.
Nestling
at the foot of Meteora, not far to the north of Kalambaka, is
the traditional village of Kastraki, its stone houses and interesting
churches built in the midst of abundant greenery. The old part
of the village has been scheduled by the state.
To
the east of the road towards the Meteora is the church of the
Panaghia Doupiani, with wall paintings and a wood carved iconostasis.
