In the geographical division of Thessaly at the ancient times, there was a huge lake. According to a tradition, an enormous earthquake split the mountains into two parts and between Olympus and Kissavos a passing was formed, called The Tembi. The water flew into the sea and Thessaly became a plain.

According to the theory of the German geologist Al Philipson, the rocks of Meteora were formed by the huge mass of river stones, sand and mud, which were united to create a united cone.

When later, the waters of the Thessalian lake ran into the Aegean sea, this united mass was split because of the corrosive action of the water, the strong winds, the heavy rains and the seismic vibrations, creating hills and rocks in different shapes and sizes.

The solidification of the river stones and the sand into compact rocks was the result of the dissolution of the limestones, as well as because of the pressure, which was forced for many thousand years on the lowest fossils from the highest ones.

Philipson’ s aspect is considered complete because it explains the pebbly character of the rocks and the hills, and also these explanations are not opposed to the tradition that refers to the sea of Thessaly.

In the prefecture of Trikala and at a distance of 20 km from Trikala above Kalambaka, rise proud and imposing the stony rocks of The Holy Meteora full of petrified shells, revealing a unique geological phenomenon. At the land of Meteora the height of the rocks reaches 400 meters. It is the most significant monastery ground in Greece after the Holy Mountain.

On these untdodden peaks in about 1100 a.d., the first ascetics came to Meteora. They climbed and nested like birds into the caves and in the cavities of the rocks isolated, looking for the completion and salvation of their soul, with prayers and fast. The rocks stand between the earth and the sky. Those who had the patience to count them found that they are over one thousand.

In the 14^th century St Athanasios of Meteora formed the first organized monastic convent with rules, according to the typical of the organized monasteries of the Holy Mountain. They were called Meteora, thanks to St Athanasios of Meteora, from the Monastery of the Great Meteoro. Since then Monks and Nuns have come and settled on the holy rocks where they work hard day and night with fast, vigilance and try, not only for their salvation but also for the salvation of all the people, with hours of prayers and entreaties.

24 monasteries have been founded from the year 1350 till 1500 a.c., but because of the damage caused by the years passing by and the passing of the centuries, most of the monasteries have remained unoccupied and few ruins exist till today.

In the beginning of the 18^th century starts the decade of the ascetism of Meteora and as a result the number of the monasteries and that of the monks has been reduced enough and only few monks care for their survival reformation.

Since 1960 till today some works of renovation and restoration of the monuments have begun with the expenses and the care of the monks of the monastic state of the Holy Mountain. With the cooperation of the 7^th Tax Office of Byzantine Monuments, the renovation of the buildings of the monasteries takes place. As well, monks and nuns with their expenses and care maintain artistic hand writings, portable icons and hagiographies, golden embroideries and wood curved objects, holy valuable articles and consecrated vessels of inconsiderable art of important historical and national value.

At the field of communication and projection of the Holy Meteora, the monastic state has to present a great and exact work. They have edited a great number of books of scientific and aesthetic level in many languages, artistic albums, biographies of Saints and tourist guides. On the market are:

Ø      Documentaries of video tape “Holy Meteora: The catacombs of the sky”, in many languages.

Ø      Tapes: “Meteora: The Holy Place”, with Byzantine hymns, as well as cards, posters, leaflets, etc.

Many of these editions have been distributed free at the offices of Greek Organization of Tourism, service and other organizations of Greece and abroad, in order to enlighten the Greeks living abroad and the foreigners, creating an important national work.

On the 29^th of September 1990 the Monastic state of Meteora had the exceptional honor to accept the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios.

The Holy Meteora have been acknowledged as maintained and protected monument of humanity by UNESCO and other national organizations. In 1995 they have been announced as “Holy land unchangeable and inviolable”, which saves their orthodox authentity and their effective protection.

Through the centuries the monasteries of Meteora have to present rich action. They offered a lot and still keep offering, not only to the Orthodox monarchism, but also to the church and the Greek Nation, with their contribution to the conservation of our cultural tradition and inheritance.

Monks and nuns who are devoted to Christ and brought up to the “Thivaida of Stagon” carry in their hearts the religious character, the cultural content of the Holy Meteora and the spiritual and national role of our Monastic state in the contemporary world.

The contribution of the monasteries to the field of education has been significant. They founded schools to save the Greek language and the Orthodox belief as well. For these reasons in the middle of the 16^th century the Socration’s Academy of Meteora had been formed.

The scholar Bishop of Stagon, Paision Klinovitis (1784-1808) donated in his will his rich library to the Holy Monastery of Saint Stephanos. The school of Saint Stephanos attended among the others the scholar hierarch and big benefactor of our Nation, Dorotheos Scholarios (1812-1889). Later he founded the Dorothean School in Trikala.

Their interest for education was great. In 1845 the head monks of the Monasteries: Varlaam, Meteora and St Stephanos subscribe the three of them a letter and they take the responsibility to contribute 500 grosia to the schools of Trikki for teacher’s payment.

The well known head monk Konstantios of the Monastery of St Stephanos, in the middle of 19^th century, founded the Konstantion school of Kalambaka. He also gave a lot of money for the raising of schools in Trikala.

But mostly in the Monasteries with their worshiping life, our orthodox belief has been maintained and also the Greek language has remained pure, that language which allowed the enslaved to understand the Psaltiri and the Octaiho and also helped them to preserve their fighting vigilance, their national consciousness and their desire for obtaining their freedom.

The country side and the Holy Monasteries cause you indeterminate emotions. The wild surroundings, the warm approaching of the Monasteries and the tensed emotional burdens overwhelm the human being and take him away from his everyday routine. An ideal place for “The life according to Christ”.

The functioning monasteries are only 6 today:

1. The Monastery of Great Meteoron or the Monastery of the Transfiguration

2. The Monastery of Varlaam or All Saints

3. The Monastery of St Stephanos

4. The Monastery of St Nikolas Anapafsas

5. The Monastery of St Barbara/Rousanou

6. The Monastery of The Holy Trinity

Μετάφραση:Δήμητρα Κοκώνη