Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora

Coordinates: 39°42′48″N 21°38′09″E / 39.7132°N 21.6358°E / 39.7132; 21.6358
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Monastery of the Holy Trinity
Religion
AffiliationEastern Orthodox
Location
Location Greece
Geographic coordinates39°42′48″N 21°38′09″E / 39.7132°N 21.6358°E / 39.7132; 21.6358
Architecture
Completed1476
Elevation570 m (1,870 ft)[1]

The Monastery of the Holy Trinity (

World Heritage Sites
titled Meteora.

Geography

Map
Location map of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora

The monasteries were built on rock cliffs in the deltaic plains of Meteora. The cliffs rise to a height of more than 400 metres (1,300 ft). They are situated in the

fluvial erosion. The sediments were once in an inland sea during the Pliocene epoch.[2] They rose as a cone during the earthquakes, forming steep rock columns, known as "heavenly columns".[3] The area is hilly and forested, with river valleys, and a protected area known as Trikala Aesthetic Forest.[4]

The monasteries of

St. Stephen and Holy Trinity are separated from the main group, which are further to the north.[5] Prior to the twentieth century, Holy Trinity had a very difficult approach, requiring crossing a valley and climbing through the rock outcrop to reach the building's entrance. Provisions were placed in baskets drawn up by rope-ladders (now with a winch). In present day, one can walk from Kalambaka for 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) along a foot track to reach the monastery, or use a winch-operated lift.[6][7] There is a road from the back side of the cliff.[8] It is currently reached via tunnels and 130 steps of stone.[9] The grounds include a 2 acres (0.81 ha) garden at the summit.[10]

To the northeast, there is a chapel (Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Αθανασίου) dedicated to St. Athanasius of Tzertzi (Άγιος Αθανάσιος Τζέρτζης).

History

A view

The history of building monasteries on top of perilous cliffs near Meteora occurred between the 14th and 15th centuries. Even prior to this, in the 11th century, religious communities had established hermitages at the foot of these cliffs. In the 14th century, the titular emperor of Serbs and Greeks, John Uroš, became a monk and moved to Meteora; he endowed, rebuilt and established monasteries here. During the political upheavals in the region during this century, monks retreated to the safe haven offered by the cliffs.[8] Dometius was said to be the first monk at the site of Holy Trinity, arriving according to local legend, in 1438.[9] Holy Trinity according to many sources was built in 1475–76,[11] though some sources say the construction dates of the monastery and its adjoining chapel, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, are unknown.[12] Holy Trinity's decoration was added in 1741. By end of the fifteenth century, there were 24 such monasteries, such as Holy Trinity, St. Barbara Rousanou, and St. Nicholas Anapafsas.[8] Damascene, Jonah, and Parthenios, were benefactors and those who took part in restorations; their names grace the monastery walls.[12]

Only six of the original monasteries are still occupied, including Holy Trinity.

UNESCO World Heritage Site entitled Meteora.[6][4] The UNESCO inscribing was done under criteria in 1988.[13] I, II, IV, V and VII.[14][15]

Architecture and fittings

Left: Holy Trinity complex in Meteora. Right: Frescos inside the monastery.

The church plan is in the form of a

occupied by the Germans. The building's sixteenth-century frescoes are reported to be post-Byzantine paintings.[4] A fresco of St Sisois and the skeleton of Alexander the Great adorns the walls.[9]

Monastic life

Fresco

At one time, fifty monks lived at Holy Trinity, but by the early twentieth century, there were only five.[17] Visitors are allowed. Patrick Leigh Fermor is reported to have visited the monasteries here several decades ago, as a guest of the Abbot of Varlaam. Even then, Holy Trinity was one of the poorest monasteries in Meteora.[18]

In popular culture

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora.

The monastery was featured in the 1981

Aristotle Kristatos, played by Julian Glover, was using the monastery in the film as a hideout. Eventually Bond throws the ATAC decoder off the cliff top when approached by the KGB
.

The Monastery also features in the 1961 film Tintin and the Golden Fleece.

The 1957 film Boy on a Dolphin is partly shot in Meteora.[19] Clifton Webb's character visits Meteora, and goes up to the Holy Trinity monastery to do some library research.

References

  1. ISBN 960-540-095-2
    .
  2. ISBN 978-1-74059-750-0
    .
  3. ^ a b "World Heritage List No. 455" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Meteora". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  5. ^ Richardson, Rufus Byam (1907). Greece through the stereoscope (Public domain ed.). Underwood & Underwood. pp. 311–.
  6. ^ a b c d "Agia Triada Monastery, Meteora". sacred-destinations.com. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Review of Ayiaz Triada". Frommers. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  8. ^
    ISBN 978-1-74104-656-4
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-0-307-92916-7
    .
  10. ^ Holmes, Burton (1919). Athens and Olympian games. Grecian journey. Thessaly (Public domain ed.). Travelogue bureau. pp. 295, 299–.
  11. ^ Conder, Josiah (1830). Turkey. J. Duncan. p. 348.
  12. ^
    ISBN 978-1-59017-520-0
    .
  13. ^ "Criteria". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Documents". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  15. ISBN 978-0-8308-3623-9
    .
  16. ^ Holy Trinity Monastery from Visit Meteora Travel. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  17. ^ Holmes, p. 299-300
  18. ISBN 978-1-4116-5396-2
    .
  19. ^ "Boy on a Dolphin (1957) - IMDb".
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