Varlaam Monastery - The Rival Force

Opposite the Great Meteoron, at a slightly lower altitude, lies the Varlaam Monastery, which rivals it in size and grandeur. The monastery took its name from the hermit Varlaam, the first person to climb this steep rocky mass.Varlaam built around 1350 AD a small church dedicated to the Three Hierarchs. After his death and for more than a century, the rock remained deserted. In the early 16th century, two brothers from an aristocratic family of Ioannina, monks Nektarios and Theofanis, climbed up here and in 1518 AD rebuilt the church of the Three Hierarchs. Later, they built the church of the Forerunner and the church of All Saints, the katholikon of the Monastery, which impresses with its two domes.Architecturally, it follows the standards of Athonite katholikons. In the old refectory operates a museum where priceless relics and manuscripts are exhibited, among which stands out the handwritten Gospel attributed to the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus.Among the many things a visitor can admire at the Varlaam Monastery (All Saints), one of the six “active” monasteries of Meteora, is also a huge wooden barrel.

Ιερά Μονή Βαρλαάμ

The barrel has a capacity of 12,000 liters (12 tons) and was originally used for storing rainwater for drinking. Later, when this problem was solved with the construction of tanks, it appears to have been used for storing wine.Varlaam Monastery – Visiting Hours (T/ +3024320 22277)Summer schedule (1/4 - 31/10): 9:00-16:00 Closed every FridayWinter schedule (1/11 - 31/3): 9:00-15:00 Closed every Thursday & Friday