Meteora (Kalabaka, Greece)

Overview

Meteora, which translates to "suspended in the air," is known for its unique rock formations and the monasteries built on top of them. These towering sandstone and conglomerate rock formations are home to six Eastern Orthodox monasteries, offering breathtaking views and a glimpse into monastic life.

The name “Meteora” means “lofty” or “elevated” and is etymologically related to “meteor” (e.g. a small body of matter from outer space that enters the earth's atmosphere). Meteora is a huge rock formation that hosts one of the most prominent complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries perched atop the massive sandstone rock formations over 1800 feet high. Twenty-four monasteries were initially established mainly from the second half of the 14th century. During the Ottoman times, many of these monasteries were destroyed and others fell into disrepair. Today, only six of these are still active and open to visitors.

Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult because they were built by monks who sought isolation from the world. The rock formations were a natural security barrier which helped to keep them isolated. For many centuries, the monks used scaffolds propped on beams wedged into the rock for climbing up and getting supplies. As years passed, this method was followed by the use of baskets, nets with hooks and rope ladders. Large rope nets were pulled up by the monks to hoist both goods and people. People, regardless of who they were (bishops, princes, kings, common people, etc.) had to be placed in a net to be pulled up to visit the monastery. Ascending the mountain by riding in a large rope net required quite a leap of faith, because the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only "when the Lord let them break". Tall (131 feet!) wooden ladders were also one of the essential tools for accessing the monasteries - often latching multiple ladders together. Eventually, in the 1920s, a bridge was built from a nearby plateau, and stairs and pathways were cut in the rock so that people, especially visitors, could go up safely and conveniently. A more modern electric trolley can now be utilized to transport supplies and monastery staff (not the monks, but others employed there), but this system is not available for public use.

While the stairs make accessing the monasteries more easily, that doesn’t mean they are easily navigated, flat stairs. In general, the stairs and pathways are winding, steep and uneven. Most of the monasteries are definitely not for those who have difficulty walking.

The monks who reside in these monasteries practice a unique lifestyle, with their daily life divided into three parts. One part is a time of isolation and concentration when they spend time by themselves in quiet prayer, study and rest. Another part of the day involves gathering with other monks for a time of corporate worship and praise to God. Here, they read the Bible, chant and participate in communion. But the longest part of the monks’ day is a period of labor in which they follow the teaching of the Bible by working with their hands in some fashion (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

In Genesis, using symbolic language, the Bible suggests that God, like a potter with clay, created human beings with his hands (Genesis 2:7), and in Psalm 8:3, the heavens are the “work of his fingers.” So, the monks use their hands to make things and serve others. What they do depends on what type of skill they have. Some are shepherds, some cultivate the land. Others do crafts, or are carpenters, or cook the food, or make clothes. They also copy manuscripts, which until the 16th century was their most important work (until the advent of the printing press). Day after day they transferred copy after copy of Bibles, church books or classical literature from papyrus to parchment, a great contribution to culture.

The population of the nearby town of Kalabaka (Kalambaka) is about 12,000, but despite its small size, the town receives more than 2 million tourists every year who come to visit the rocks of Meteora and its monasteries.