Exceptionally imposing is the rock situated opposite the Holy Monastery
of the
Holy Meteoron. On this towering rock of the stone forest stands the 373
metres high Holy Monastery of Varlaam.
The first ascetics used scaffolds that rested in pot logs, placed in the
rock’s holes to scramble up the rock.
The first occupier of this Holy Monastery was monk Varlaam who built
some cells and a church dedicated to the Three Patriarchs in 1350 A.D.
Soon the Monastery got deserted, but it was renewed by the Ioannites
monks Theofanes and Nektarios in 1518 A.D. They reconstructed the Church
of All Saints and the Church of St John Prodromos which constitute two
of the most gorgeous Churches on Meteora.
The access to the Monastery was carried out through scaffolds which were
later on replaced by large rope-ladders and by a net which is still used
for the transfer of food supplies and items necessary to ensure the
Monastery’s maintenance. ![Ο Χριστός Παντοκράτωρ. Τοιχογραφία στον τρούλλο του νάρθηκα του Καθολικού](meteora_barlaam_6.jpg)
In 1923, the monks built 195 steps on the rock, guiding people safely to
the top of it.
The Main Church, the Katholikon, in the Athonite type was consecrated
in honour of All Saints. It was erected in 1541-1542 as attested by the
inscriptions.
The Church consists of the Narthex, the Main Church and the Bema. The
dedicatory inscription mentions that the Church was erected in 20 days’
time. The concentration and the transfer of the materials up the rock
lasted about 22 years.
Reportedly, Theofanes himself was worn out and bedridden due to a severe
illness that kept him in bed for ten whole months. As soon as he got
informed that the work had been completed, he deployed his remaining
courage and eagerly went to the Church. He blessed all the present
company, he raised his hands, glorified and thanked God and the All
Saints. He returned to his cell and died in 17th May 1544.
In the Holy Bema the representation of the Virgin of the Sign or the
Platytera ton Ouranon is extremely impressive thanks to the blaze of the
gold and the rest of the colours as well as the mildness of her facial
expression. ![Ιερά Μονή Βαρλαάμ. Το δίχτυ](meteora_barlaam_10.jpg)
The Abbatial Throne and the two lecterns which are adorned with tessera
and bear patterns made of marble and ivory were constructed during the
reign of the Bishop and Abbot of the Monastery of Anatolio, Stagon
Paisios (1784-1808 A.D.) as someone can witness in the inscription in
one of the lecterns.
The impressive frescos in the Main Church of the Katholikon are
considered to be some of the best in Meteora and have been painted by
the well known iconographer Frangos Katelanos in the middle of the 15th
century.
The Chancel Screen of the Main Church is carven and gilded with
representations of the vegetable and animal kingdom.
The frescos of the Narthex were painted in 1566 A.D. by the priest
Georgios and his brother Frangos, according to the inscriptions.
The
tombs of Nectarios and Theofanes are still there. At the Monastery one
can also notice the chancel Table (nowadays it is a museum), the
Hospital, the Cook-room and the Nursing home.
At the beginning of the 17th century a fully organized
bibliographical laboratory was in operation, where specialized
calligraphists and penmen used to work. There
was
also
a
gold
embroidery
lab.Another
building one can find at the Monastery is the vestry-Museum which has
been repaired in the past few years. There are 290 remarkable documents,
ecclesiastic heirlooms, post-byzantine portable pictures,
gold-embroidered canonicals and the impressive gold-embroidered
Epitafios, in green velvet, a work that dates back to 1609. Rare
enough
are
the
Monastery’s
incunabula.
The chapel of the Three Hierarchs is situated in the northwest side of
the rock. It was built in 1627 and the murals were painted by the
Priest Ioannis from Kalampaka in 1637.
The church is among others painted with 24 scenes of the The Akathist
Hymn and two exquisite syntheses, that of the Dormition of Efraim
the Syrian, and the one of the Dormition of John the Chrysostom.
OPENING HOURS OF THE HOLY MONASTERY OF VARLAAM |
SUMMER
9.00am
to
4.00
pm
Closed on
Thursdays |
|
WINTER
9.00am
to
3.00
pm
Closed on
Thursdays and Fridays |
Telephone
Number:
24320-22.277 |
Translation by Christine Boutsia
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