On the western edge of the stone forest lies the border of the organized monasticism of  Meteora.

 The Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of Jesus is also called the “Great Meteoron”, not only due to its 50 acres length and the size of its buildings but also due to the spiritual primacy and radiance it enjoyed in the mid-16th century.

   The monastery is perched on the high and imposing rock with a height of 613m. above the sea level and 416m. away from the bed of the river Pineios .

   Saint Athanasios the Meteorites, a scholarly monk, lead an ascetic lifestyle on a rock named the “Stylo ton Stagon”. He was the first to climb the Platys Lithos (“Broad Rock”), accompanied by fourteen monks.

   They dag holes in the steep rock, they stack beams, constructed scaffolds and managed to reach a point where the birds alone could access.  

   There, between the earth and the sky, at the edge of a vertical cliff, Athanasios the Meteorites, built Theomitoros monastery around 1340 AD, organized the first systematic monastic community and erected the church of Theomitoros.

   Later, he constructed another church consecrated in honour of the transfiguration of the Savior Jesus Christ, which constituted the Katholikon of the monastery and is called the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ until the current day.

   Athanasios was not alone in this endeavor. His successor and second proprietor of the Holy Monastery was the monk, Saint Ioasaf (John Uros) that is the son of the Serbian-Greek king, Symeon Uros Paleologos who supported the Monastery financially.

   In earlier times, access to the monastery was achieved through ladders and the Tower (in 1520), where the loft with the net dominated, which is still employed by the elderly pilgrims to carry goods. Until 1923, ascent was accomplished by means of ladders and nets. Nowadays, the ascent is succeeded by means of a flight of 146 short and steep stairs leading to the entrance of the monastery.

   The first small building that can be found inside the rock, on the left side of the stairs is the hermitage of the founder of the monastery. Entering the main entrance, on the right, one comes to terms with the old winch.

   The view at the edge of the cliff is breathtaking. After climbing the stairs, the sacristy, the old cooking area and the cellar are discernible.

   Getting to the top, one can witness the glorious structure of the monastery, the imposing Katholikon, with a length of 32 m and a width of 24 m.

    The church has a Greek-cross-in-square floor plan, with a 12-sided central dome resting on a drum following the architectural Athonic type and was built in 1544-45 AD.

   The  Katholikon  is divided into exonarthex, narthex, nave and the sanctuary. The nave frescoes were painted in 1552 under the assumed authority of Abbot Simeon and constitutes one of the most brilliant fresco sets of the meta - Byzantine painting era.

   The Bema which formed the first Katholikon of the monastery was constructed before 1380 AD, by the founder of the Monastery Saint Athanasios who died in the year 1380 and was succeeded by Saint Ioasaf. Our church celebrates them both on the 20^th of April.

   Saint Ioasaf completed and frescoed the Katholikon of the monastery in 1484 AD. The nave is bright and filled with frescoes. The iconostasis is carven and glided. It was constructed in 1617 AD and includes images taken from the vegetable and animal kingdom.  

   The icons of the iconostasis belong to different eras and are important for their artistry and their age. A great sample of wood carving can be seen on the Episcopal throne which was constructed in 1617 AD. It is wooden and the images are derived from the vegetable kingdom. Both lecterns are made of wood with various marble and ivory designs. The old wooden icon stand in the nave has several flowery depictions and was completed under the authority of the Abbot Parthenios Orfidis. 

   There are 3 chapels at the Grand Meteoron:

                                                                                                                 
     1. The chapel of John the Baptist.
     2. The chapel of Sts Constantine and Helena. It was built in 1789 and its characteristics place it among the polygonal domed basilicas.
     3. The chapel of St. Athanasios.

    The 32 metres’ dining table, an eating area of all monks, has been converted into a museum with interesting exhibits.

   Priceless treasures are preserved in the library of the monastery:

•  manuscripts, Byzantine and post-Byzantine documents.
  • manuscripts, a spiritual output of the 9th - 19th century.
  • books concerning the function of the monastery, patristic texts,  hymnographical texts, rare incunabula of 15th-19th century, the total number of which are 450 volumes.
  • collection of music and legal manuscripts and ancient texts (Homer, Sophocles, Demosthenes, Hesiod, Aristotle, the Alexandrian writers).

   It is one of the wealthiest monastic libraries. It also served as a bibliographic workshop in the 16th - 17th century.

   A wide collection of gold-embroidered cloths is also kept in the museum:

 • the Altar table, a gold-embroidered apron, crosses, golden epitrachilia, embroidered Epitaphs.

   One should also pay special attention to the beautifully decorated, silver reliquaries where the relics of our holy fathers are reverently stored.

   Before leaving, the visitor should not miss a short tour to the monastery’s courtyard, where one may admire a wonderful view over the river Pineios and the Mount Koziakas.

The monks follow strict regulations and gather at the church 4 times a day, Orthodox liturgy lasts about 6 hours a day.

   The practice of the monastic life, which is the monks’ main concern, is in absolute agreement with the imperative morals of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church.

   There is both social activity and spiritual support of the pilgrimages, which stems from our saints’ miraculous grace.

   The monastery has offered a great deal to our nation, education and our culture. It constitutes a vibrant monastic community for more than six hundred and fourteen years, a bastion of true Christianity and the traditions of Hellenism.

   Monks devoted to Christ, carrying prayers in their hearts and building materials on their backs, renovate, restore and preserve the monastery, celebrating its ritualistic beauty. As a result, every year, pilgrims and tourists are getting overwhelmed by the great mission undertaken there. 

Translation by Christine Boutsia