METEORA - A UNIQUE GEOLOGICAL PHENOMENON.

The geological phenomenon of Meteora constitutes a world attraction and a unique monument of nature.

In central Greece and particularly in the north-western department of Thessaly, between Chasia NW and Pindos westwards, gigantic rocks create a unique spectacle in the world.

The phenomenon of the rocks is not reported neither in Mythology nor by some Greek or foreigner historian. For thousands of years the historians and geologists are occupied with the formulation of these rocks, developing various theories.

The prevailing theory is from the German geologist Filipson, who came to Greece towards the end of the 19th century. According to his theory one the estuaries of a big river were in this region and for millions of years it was covered by a narrow and deep marine department. The waters of the river brought various materials and stones that were transported by the waters from more northern departments of the original central Europe. From the accumulation of these materials deltaic cones were formulated.

25-30 million years ago, after the geological changes that took place during the centuries, the central department of current Greece rised and the region of Thessaly sank, which formed a lake. Afterwards the opening of the Tempi was created, as a result the waters poured in the current Aegean Sea and the Thessalian plain emerged. 

During the tertiary period of the Alpine folds, the compact volumes of the rocks detached from the mountain range of Pindos and over the centuries the Valley of the river Penaeus was created. 

With the continuous erosion due to the wind and rain, as well as by other geological changes, these rocks in the passage of million years took their current form.

THE ASCETICS

In the cavities of the rocks, in their slots and tops the people of the region found protection from the raid of various conquerors and who passed through the region.

In these rocks several bold hermits found shelter who sought peacefulness and Christian perfection.

In the beginning the ascetics were isolated and prayed in small chapels, the so - called “prosefchadia” not only for their own salvation but also for the salvation of all the people. Their life was frugal and hard working.

It is not exactly known when the rocks were first inhabited. According to the Byzantinologists, the first ascetics resorted to the rocks by the end of the first millennium. The first ascetic was Barnabas in 950-970 A.D., who founded the hermitage of Metamorphosis in the beginnings of 1000 A.D. Then the hermitage of Stagon or Doypiani was founded in 1150-1160 A.D.

Apart from the mentioned hermitages, other ones also existed in various cavities round the rock of Doypiani, the Holy Spirit and rock “Sourlotis”. In the beginning of the 12th century around the Meteora, a small ascetic state had been established with the temple of The Mother of God being the center of worship. 

In this small temple people flocked from their hermitages in order to take part in the common divine service to God, to discuss about the various problems that occupied them and ask for help from other ascetics. The head of the hermitage of Doypiani or the hermitage of Stagon brought the title of the “First” and “abbot” Abbey of the Mother of God of Doypiani.

THE MONASTERIES

After two hundred years, in the mids of the 14th century (1340-1350 A.D.), the monastery of Metamorphosis of Sotiros was founded by Saint Athanasios, who gave to the big rock the name “Meteoro”.

Then we have the creation of many monasteries (24) during the period of 2 centuries (14th – 15th) when monasticism flourishes in Meteora. 

In the midst of the 14th century the abbot of the hermitage of Stagon (Doypiani) monk Nilos is the founder and owner of the monastery of Analipsi (Today monastery of Ypapanti) with very important murals. The first ascetics climbed on the rocks using scaffoldings that were supported by posts embedded in holes on the rock. Later, they used ladders and nets, until in the beginning of the twentieth century when the first stairs were carved.

Over the years and under various difficult conditions, such as conquerors of the region, raids of robbers and other factors, led many of the flourishing monasteries to the abandonment and destruction (period of decline after the 17th century). 

The Meteora have been characterized as the second Mount Athos and have been preserving the monastic tradition for six centuries.

In the view of the holy rocks the visitor is amazed by the impressive magnificence of this giant stone cluster. The ascetic sheds in the rocks reveal the irrefutable presence of the first monks that were devoted body and soul to God. 

The first monasteries were built with a lot of assiduity and virtuosity in the 14th century. With the passage of the years certain of them were rebuilt and others were repaired. 

From the 24 monasteries, only the six function while the remainder 15 are uninhabited and devastated. The holy Abbeys of the Metamorphosis of Sotiros, the Holy Trinity, Saint Nicholas of Anapaysa, and the Barlaam are for men while the Abbey of Roysanoy and Saint Stephen are feminine.

The monks, the priests but also important hagiography painters of the era, such as Theofanis and Fragkos Katelanos, created murals in the temples of Meteora. The Mother of God Thrinodousa, Estavromenos, the Birth of Christ, the Martyrdoms of Saints, are from the marvelous iconographic murals that adorn the interior of the temples. They have rich and vivid colors, the facial expressions of the people are natural and they are inspired mainly by the Christological and hagiological life. 

Certain murals however, have been seriously damaged by raids of vandals while others have indelible marks of the deterioration of time. Stylistically the murals belong to the last Byzantine Period of Palaiologos.

At Meteora treasures, heirlooms and a lot of work of miniature art are saved. A representative sample of miniature art is the brilliant carved wood templar that is found in the Catholic Abbey of Saint Stephen.

The visitor can admire portable pictures, crosses made from the honest cross, pontifical bars, brocaded vestments, manuscripts, Gospels, utensils for functional aims, lead seals, silver reliquaries which are some of the museum exhibits. Thousands of handwritten codes, as well as precious in value orders of Byzantine and post Byzantine documents that are saved and protected in archives of the monasteries, present an exceptional interest.

In the Abbey of Saint Stephen, the miraculous skull of Saint Charalampos is protected, while in the Abbey of Barlaam the Gospel that is attributed to the emperor of the Byzantium Constantine Porphyrogennitos is protected. 

MONUMENT OF WORLD HERITAGE

In 1989 UNESCO (Cultural Organism of UN) enlisted the Meteora as a monument of world heritage. From this heritage the monks-ascetics for centuries now follow the steps of their first Fathers, embracing their faith with the obedience, indigence, humility, the fast and the ceaseless prayer in the Paramount Author.