Monastery of Dousiko, Pyli

The monastery of Dousiko (Agios Vissarionas) is located in a wonderful green area, 24 km from Trikala, and 5 km from Pyli (seat of the homonymous Municipality), and above the village of Agios Vissarionas. It is also called the monastery of the Savior of the Great Gates, due to its connection with the nearby 13th century Byzantine monastery, Porta-Panagia. It was founded between the years 1527-1535, on the site of the ruins of a 13th-14th century monastery. The first katholicon of the monastery was built by the founder of the monastery and a native of the region, Saint Bessarion (feast day September 15), Archbishop of Larissa, who became known for the construction of important works for his time, such as his monastery, and the bridges of Korakos on Acheloos, Portaikos, and Sarakina in the region of Trikala. The monastery was one of the richest and most active monasteries in the region, with estates in Romania. The central building of the countryard is the katholikon of the monastery, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior. It is an Athonite-style church, to which a narthex and an exonarthex have been added. The katholikon is surrounded by three-story buildings with wooden balconies, which house the rest of the monastery’s activities. Many of the original buildings of the monastery, such as part of the west wing of the cells, were destroyed, and have now been restored. Today it operates with a few monks, and is inaccessible to women, for whom, however, a chapel has been built outside the Monastery.