The Holy Monastery of Megalo Spileio, one of the oldest and most imposing monasteries in Greece, is located in the area of Kalavryta, built at an altitude of 940 meters, embedded in a steep rock of Helmos. This Monastery is not only a religious pilgrimage but also an admirable architectural achievement that awes every visitor.
Historical Background
The founding of the Holy Monastery of Megalo Spileio dates back to 362 AD, when the brothers Simeon and Theodoros from Thessaloniki, guided by visions and the finding of the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary created by the Evangelist Loukas, settled in the area of Zachloros. According to tradition, they were found at the place where the monastery is today with the help of the shepherdess Ephrosyne and a miraculous goat.
Architecture and Artistic Wealth
The current Monastery, built on eight floors, integrates harmoniously into the rock, mesmerizing every visitor with its imposing presence. The monastery’s katholikon, carved into the rock, is a cruciform inscribed temple with two splints. The interior of the church is decorated with frescoes from 1653, marble inlays and an exquisite wood-carved iconostasis.
Miraculous Icon of the Virgin Mary
The central point of worship in the Monastery is the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, attributed to Luke the Evangelist. This image attracts many pilgrims who come to ask for the grace and blessing of the Virgin Mary.
Historical value
The Holy Monastery of Megalo Spileio played a crucial role during the period of the Turkish occupation and the Greek Revolution. It was a center of resistance against the Ottomans and offered refuge to the fighters of 1821. The bravery and faith of the monks was legendary, culminating in the heroic attitude of the abbot Damascenes in 1827, when he answered Ibrahim with the famous phrase: “It is impossible for us to worship…”.
Disasters and Reconstruction
The Monastery suffered many disasters during its history, with major fires in 840, 1400, 1640 and 1934. But always, the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary was saved, and the Monastery was rebuilt with the help of the faithful and the blessing of the Virgin Mary. During the German occupation in 1943, the Monastery was looted and the monks executed.
Modern times
Today, the Holy Monastery of Megalo Spileio continues to function as a monastic community and is an important pilgrimage center. From 1979, under the abbotship of blessed Archimandrite Nikiforos Theodoropoulos, the Monastery became a Koinobio, allowing the monks to devote themselves undividedly to prayer and ministry.
