Six active mountain monasteries are one of the shrines of Greece. The first mention of hermits in mountain caves and their prayer places dates back to the 10th century.
In 1988, the monastery complex of the Meteora Mountains in Greece was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List according to several criteria, including as an object of world cultural significance and a natural phenomenon.
The schedule of visits to Meteora monasteries is set by season: the summer season is from April to October, the winter season is from November to March.
Meteora Monastery Complex
The largest of the monasteries is the Great Meteor (also the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord), founded by St. Athanasius of Meteora in the XIV century, for various reasons it was subsequently restored more than once. In the Transfiguration Cathedral of the monastery, ancient icons and paintings from 1552 have been preserved, and there is a museum of monastic values. The Great Meteor is located on the highest rock (about 613 meters) with a large platform on top (an area of 6 hectares). Visiting schedule: in summer — from 9.00 to 17.00, except Tuesdays; in winter — from 9.00 to 16.00, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The schedule of the complex is available on the website.
The Monastery of All Saints was also established in the XV century on the site of a small church in the middle of the XIV century, built by the schemer Varlaam (hence another common name — Varlaam Monastery). Ancient mosaics and frescoes, a museum of rare manuscripts collections attract special attention in this complex. Visiting schedule: in summer — from 9.00 to 16.00, except Friday, in winter — from 9.00 to 16.00, except Friday.
Monastery of St. Barlaam or All Saints
The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is located against the backdrop of a grandiose landscape of Meteora rocks — overlooking the green Pindos ridge. The approximate time of the monastery's construction is 1458-1476. Visiting schedule: in summer — 10.00 to 17.00, except Thursday; in winter — from 10.00 to 16.00, except Wednesday and Thursday.
The convent of St. Stephen is located on a cliff overlooking the town of Kalambaka, the entrance to it is accessible only by one pedestrian bridge with a length of 8 meters. Visiting schedule: in summer — from 9.00 to 13.30 and from 15.30 to 17.30, except Monday; in winter — from 9.30 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00, except Monday.
The second active convent of the Meteora complex is the Rusanu Monastery with the Cathedral of St. Barbara. It is located on a very limited area, so from a distance it seems that this is a single building that completely occupies the top of the cliff. Visiting schedule: in summer — from 9.00 to 17.00; in winter — from 9.00 to 14.00; on Wednesday, the monastery is always inaccessible to tourists.
Meteors: ticket prices, schedule 2024 (official website)
The monastery of St. Nicholas of Anapavsas has several levels: the chapel of St. Anthony was built on the first, the temple of St. Nicholas of the XVI century on the second, the small church of St. John the Baptist, cells and the old refectory are located on the third. Such a multi-level ("high-rise") The arrangement of the monastery made it possible to compactly place all the necessary prayer and service rooms on a small rock. Visiting schedule: in summer — from 9.00 to 15.30; in winter — from 9.00 to 14.00; on Friday, the monastery is not accessible to tourists.
