The monastic community

Located in the northwest of the Thessalian Plain, in the prefecture of Trikala, Meteora is a highly striking group of monuments. With their architecture, painted decoration and relics, the monasteries perfectly complement the complex and unique geological rock formations in the area, some of which exceed 400 metres in height.

Six major monasteries are open to visitors; other smaller abandoned, hermitages, countless wall paintings, hundreds of relics in the form of icons, manuscripts, books, silver liturgical vessels, holy vestments, articles of daily use and tributes all make Meteora the second largest monastic complex in Greece after Mount Athos.

The name Meteora (suspended in the air) derives from St.  Athanasius of Meteora, who visited the area in 1344. Although it is unclear when the first ascetics arrived, the prevailing view places the first anchorites on the rock of St. Stephen in the 12^th century. The first attempts to organize monastic life there are attributed to a brother Nilus, on whose initiative the monks living in isolation in rock caves gathered around the Skete of Stagoi, at the monastery of the Theotokos Doupiani, in the mid-14^th century.

Most of the monasteries at Meteora were founded during the 14^th century, and for some time were over twenty in number. However, the conquest of Thessaly by the Ottoman Turks in 1393, and the gradual decline and collapse of the Byzantine Empire, appear to have been a key factor in the decline of the monastic community during the 15th century. The foundation of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) Monastery in 1475-76, together with the new wall paintings in the old catholicon of Megalo Meteoro in 1483, attest to a new era of prosperity and affluence for the Meteora monastic community, involving intense building and artistic activity, above all in the 16^th century. Meteora suffered extensive damage and looting by the troops of Ali Pasha in the early 19th century. However, after a long period of abandonment and decay, a new era of prosperity has come to the six monasteries that can be visited today, namely Megalo Meteoro, Agia Triada, Agios Stefanos, Agios Nikolaos and the monasteries of Roussanou and Barlaam. Since 1989 Meteora has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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