Greece has it all - Meteora
Greece has it all - Holy Meteora
Today is January 7.2013 - Christmas according to the Orthodox calendar. We have a program on this day visiting the monasteries of the Holy Meteors.
These monasteries were built by monks on mountain peaks in the most inaccessible places. Only six monasteries remain in our time. They are located on different peaks, and it is not at all easy to get to them even now.
In winter, not all monasteries are open to tourists. Therefore, we are taken immediately to the main monastery with the name Great Meteor (Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ). Translated, it sounds like “Great place hanging in the air. ” This is the largest, highest, and oldest monastery of the remaining six. It was founded in the 14th century by the learned monk Athanasios from Mount Athos. It was he who first built a small church and modest dwellings for the monks.
To get to it from the parking lot, you need to climb a steep staircase carved into the rock, 154 steps. The ascent was not easy, in one place I had to sit down to rest. According to legend, on each of the steps the pilgrim leaves one of his sins. So if I had sins, they all remained on the steps in Meteora .
This monastery has a rich and valuable collection of manuscripts, icons and holy relics. Inside the monastery is a large church, decorated with magnificent frescoes and valuable icons. The most valuable icon of the monastery is the icon of the Mother of God "Fadeless Color" of the 17th century.
Excursion to Meteora is conducted by a local guide Alexei. This is a man passionate about the history of Greece, and a wonderful storyteller. We listened to his stories, not looking up even in the photo. We have 40 minutes to visit, because in winter at 4 p. m. the lower doors of the monastery are closed, and all tourists are delicately but persistently escorted out of the monastery. So Alexei talks very briefly about the history of Meteora and then gives time for a photo outside the church. From the observation deck, breathtaking views of the mountain range with monasteries.
Photos inside the church are prohibited, so there is not a single photo from the church. But we took our souls to the photo of the views outside the monastery, and the surrounding peaks, on which, like swallows' nests, neighboring monasteries are built. After the photo session, we get on the bus and go down the mountain to the icon workshop. Here we are given a presentation on the manufacture of monastic icons, they tell us what the difference is in manufacturing, and we are invited to go to the trading floor.
I was planning to buy icons in Meteora, so I took advantage of this with pleasure. Prices for icons are very different, and depend on the size and material of the icons.
I was interested in small icons the size of a postcard and smaller. A Russian-speaking consultant girl approached me and told me about the purpose of each icon that I was interested in. With her help, I chose five icons for myself, my children and my grandchildren in the price range of 16-23 euros per icon. All icons have a certificate for customs on the back. The icons have already been consecrated by the abbot of the monastery.
Many of the group also purchased icons here.
After that, we descend to the city of Kalambaka, and go to a cafe for Christmas dinner. Before the trip, we were asked if we would order Christmas dinner. I would have ordered, but the price of 60 euros was too high. Therefore, in this cafe we choose our own dishes for dinner. In Kalambaka, at Christmas, it is customary to dine with goat meat soup. I have never tried such a soup, so with caution, but I choose it for my dinner. Well, a traditional Greek salad, and a decanter of red wine for two. The soup turned out to be very appetizing in appearance, and no less tasty. After dinner, the restaurant brought us another piece of cake for dessert, and a few glasses of another brand of wine for tasting. A nice addition to our dinner. In general, dinner cost me 16 euros, against the offered 60. I felt the difference !
After that, we drive to the settlement in the hotel "Kaikis". It is located right on the main street. There is a supermarket not far from it, and we, having left our bags in the room, have time to go to the supermarket to buy Greek souvenirs. For my beloved, I bought a body cream with mango seed oil at a completely ridiculous price of 4 euros. Now I use and remember Greece .
