The Amazing Monks of Meteora
There are some places in the world beyond explanation; and these are sites that must be seen in person to truly be appreciated. Without a doubt, Majestic Meteora in Central Greece is such a place! Between the 14th & 16th Centuries many Greek Orthodox priests felt that the church was too political and too “worldly.” They wanted a simple life of solitude and reflection; their search resulted in Meteora.
A Remote Location
Located roughly 220 miles north of Athens and 145 miles west of Thessoloniki. incredible rock monoliths rise between 1,000 and 2,000 feet above the Thessaly Plain. The monks discovered these monoliths. Today, the monoliths are near the small town of Kalabaka. Centuries ago, however, these monoliths stood alone with few inhabitants near by. These monoliths provided the solitude the monks wanted!
Initially, the monks lived in caves of the monoliths, but as time progressed they built monasteries atop the monoliths. This was not an easy task; especially over 600 years ago. At that time, the only way to the top was with a primitive pulley and basket system rigged from the valley floor. Consequently, the monks of majestic Meteora brought every single thing that went into these magnificent constructions to the top by basket. Sadly, several monks sacrificed their lives during these constructions. Regardless, they finished in a grand style–as you can see today.
War and Time Affect the Monasteries:
At one time there were 20 separate monasteries at Meteora, but only six survive today. Built in the 16th Century, the beautiful chapel of St. Stephen monastery was shelled by Nazis during World War II. Sadly, the Nazis shelled it because they believed the monastery was harboring insurgents. Therefore, after the war, the monks abandoned Meteora for several years. In 1961, however, this monastery was reestablished as a nunnery, and the nuns still take care of it today. There are about 60 nuns and monks living at Meteora; actually, more nuns than monks! In 1988 majestic Meteora–which literally means suspended in the sky–UNESCO named it a World Heritage site.
Check out Other Blogs on this Site:
There are numerous other blogs on this site about many different places in the world. These include Alaska, Africa, other European Countries, Israel, China, and Thailand. Check them out and feel free to share with your friends, family, and neighbors!
Also, check out Dr. David Slamp’s book Tales of the Magnificent Med. You can purchase it in the Alaska Bookstore.
What an amazing Blog Post Kathy. Congratulations on the well presented video. What incredible photos. To think that magnificent buildings such as these monasteries were built 600 years ago…Amazing architecture, scenery, amazing everything! One certainly has to very fit to go up and down all those stairs. Thank you for the article.