Monastery of Great Meteoron
Address
Kalambaka 422 00
GPS
39.726489358446, 21.626352512439
In the western part of the Meteora rocks is the Monastery of Great Meteoron, built on the rock of the same name. It is the largest of the six active monasteries of Meteora, which have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1988.
It was founded in the 14th century by Saint Athanasius of Meteora and experienced a particular flourishing in the mid-16th century.
The visitor today approaches the monastery from a downhill and then an uphill staircase. Near the entrance to the monastery is the tower that housed the old net elevator mechanism, and the monastery cellar, which today operates as a museum with objects of daily use.
In 1544, a new church was erected, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior. The old katholikon was incorporated into the new church as a Holy Shrine.
The Monastery of Great Meteoron has numerous spaces designed as museums, with exhibits of relics of the Monastery, manuscripts, icons, historical utensils and objects of the monks, etc. The Monastery’s historic vineyard today occupies an area of 25 acres and produces a variety of wine labels.
