Monastery of Saint George Mandilas

In a natural cavity (tafoni) on the rock of Agios Pnevmas, opposite Panagia Doupiani in Kastraki, and accessible only to climbers, lies the Holy Monastery of Agios Georgios Mandilas. According to a long-standing local tradition, on the feast day of Saint George, at the end of the liturgical celebration, young villagers climb the rock to hang colorful scarves and light candles at the monastery. These scarves remain in place until the following year’s feast and are considered offerings or wishes for good health.

The foundation of the monastery is believed to date back to the 14th century, based on oral tradition and limited historical evidence. Various legends explain both the origin of the monastery’s name and the associated custom, many of which trace back to the period of Ottoman rule.

According to tradition, Saint Athanasius the Meteorite—a pivotal figure in the history of Meteora—once settled at the Monastery of Agios Georgios Mandilas. Saint Athanasius is credited with reshaping monastic life in the region by transitioning from isolated hermitages to organized communal monasticism, laying the foundation for the Meteora monastic system as we know it today.