Monastery of Great Meteoron, Kalabaka, Greece

The Monastery of Great Meteoron is the largest of the monasteries located at Meteora, though in 2015 there were only 3 monks in residence.

The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded in the mid-14th century by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the systematic organizer. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora. Hosios Athanasios was born around 1302 in the medieval town of New Patras, today’s Hypati.

The Katholikon (main church), consecrated in honour of the Transfiguration of Jesus was erected in the middle of the 14th century and 1387/88 and decorated in 1483 and 1552. The central courtyard is embellished with beautiful 16th century frescoes. Take time to gaze at the artistic details of some of the best samples of Greek Byzantine art and then rush to the museum, where historical codices and religious icons of high value are on display. Once you’ve reached the summit, a rewarding view awaits you and the monastery calls for exploration.

References:

Visit Meteora

Address

Meteora, Kalabaka, Greece

See all sites in Kalabaka

Details

Founded: c. 1350
Category: Religious sites in Greece

More Information

www.visitmeteora.travel

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Varlaam Monastery (0,3 km)
Roussanou Monastery (0,7 km)
Meteora (0,6 km)
Holy Trinity Monastery (1,7 km)
St. Stephen Monastery (2,2 km)
St. Nikolaos Anapafsas Monastery (0,3 km)

User Reviews

Sapna Srivastava (18 months ago)
Meteora has its special effects due to the geographical structures. The monk monasteries are one time see but the monk culture has been taken over by churches. There are better places to enjoy the high rise mountains and take pictures.

Rimas Trumpa (18 months ago)
Very beautiful views but large parts of the monastery were closed.

Jason Georgarakis (18 months ago)
Stunning view and a life changing experience. I would definitely recommend it during the winter time. ( If you are a photographer and you want to bring a drone you must take permission from CAA )

David Tsani (19 months ago)
A beautiful holy place which I had the luck of visiting it. Definitely recommend it!!!

Svetlana Sapkina (19 months ago)
This place is very special. It looked for me as another world or another universe. It's great to be here and to feel the spirit. I thought the presence of God feels everywhere and I has the feeling I want to stay here for a long time. Good to know about the open hours ,some of places were closed bcs of renovation or service. You can not visit all territory in monastery but some places and churches. Be prepared for 200-300 stairs in some of them. Visiting places are very good organized and its possible to buy some souvenirs near the entrances. Highly recommended to visit all monasteries

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

Historic Site of the week

Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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Monastery of Great Meteoron