The stone forest of the Holy Meteora is a spectacular sight and one of the most impressive and submissive geological phenomena of our planet. The ruling theory claims that the creation of these huge rocks is due to a delta-shaped cone that consists of river stones and limestone material that emptied in the ancient Thessalian lake. After the geological gap that was created between Olympus and Ossa the waters of the lake poured into the Aegean Sea through the valley of Tempe. The earthquakes, the erosion of the rocks and the winds took away all the delicate material leaving there huge, concrete shapeless rocks up to 400 metres high!

Our Creator allowed that the tops of these steep rocks become the habitation of hermits, who, like angels, will guide us incessantly to the kingdom of God.

Therefore, these holy rocks; gazing at the sky, on which saints walked, took the name "Meteora" by saint Athanasios the Meteorite (founder of the Megalo Meteoron) in the 14th century.

Ever since, the Holy Meteora are a place of hermits, strain, praying and sweating, fasting, tears, an always burning candle of our Holy Church, the one and only Orthodox Church.

The Monastic Life, in the Orthodox Church is a god-founded institution that summarizes the essence of Christianity; it's the most perfect and accurate of its expressions. Its roots go a long time in the past, up to the era of the Principles and it was introduced by Antonios the Great and Saint Vasilios.

It presupposes a special inclination and a special gift, because the aim of the monk is the purification, the saving of one's soul and the dedication to God through obedience and payer. "What will a man benefit, if he gains the whole world but loses his soul or what will he get in return of his soul?" the monks strive all night with self-control, and hard work, staying sleepless, praying for the salvation of the universe, begging and serving God. The whole living of a monk, who lives away from the worries of the world, is characterized by obedience, modesty, virginity, lack of property and a constant fight to reach his God.

The history of the Holy Meteora can be traced back in legends and traditions. It appears that from the 11th century the first hermits used to live on the mountains and in the cavities of rocks. Around the end of the llth century and the beginning of the 12th, the first monastic community was founded, the Skete of Doupiani or Stagoi, and all services were performed in the church of Virgin Mary, at the left of the Monastery of Saint Nikolaos Anapafsas.

Every Sunday, even the most isolated hermits would leave their sketes and go there to perform in common the service, to adore their Lord as they should.

One of the leading personalities among the monks on Meteora, around the end of the 14th century, was the "first" of the skete and the abbot of the Monastery of Doupiani, Neiolos.

One of the biggest figures of Christianity, that our Church has canonized, is Athanasios the Meteorite, who formed the first organized monastic community in Megalo Meteoron in the 14th century.

Ever since, and for 600 years the monasteries remain burning like candles on Meteora, guarded by God and accompanied by a great number of Saints, Hermits and Martyrs. In the 16th century, when Meteora was at its peak, there were 24 monasteries in use.

Nowadays, 6 monasteries are still preserved and in use: Megalo Meteoron (Transfiguration of Our Saviour), Varlaam, Agia Trias, Saint Stephanos, Rousanou (Saint Varvara), and Saint Nikolaos Anapafsas.

The Monasteries of Ipapanti, Saint Nikolaos Batova and three more that have retain their small church in the cavity of rocks, Saint Antonios, Saint Grigorios and the Holy Spirit, have their buildings preserved. Of the rest there are only ruins or no sign at all. Those are: Saint Dimitrious, Her Almighty, Saint George's Mandila and the Holy Principles.

As a whole, Meteora is a holy land, a sacred place, protected by God. Every cave and every rock are blessed by Him.

It is the fighting tower of our Faith and Orthodoxy, it bear with it valuable religious and national traditions and has established its presence through its 600-year-old history and offer to believers.

Meteora constitutes a unique monument of humanity and is protected by UNESCO for its religious, historical, architectural and geological importance. In 1995, with a state law, the area of Meteora is recognised as a holy area, unaltered and sacred.

The monasteries of Meteora continue their long tradition offering a rich spiritual, missionary, national and social work and support for human souls, guiding and awakening our spirit.