Meteora, this imposing centuries-old spiritual portal with elements of intense religiosity radiates light of reverence and Christmas customs.
In the imposing setting of Meteora, a separate manger dominates, which is located inside a cave, above the town of Kalambaka.
The rock is called by the locals ‘Ambaria’ and ‘Eye of God’ and is located behind the Museum of Digital Projection. The location and the lighting of the manger attract even more people’s interest, while the manger is a center of reference in the region of Meteora.
The city of Kalambaka preserves the tradition of mangers, as in the past had set up a special manger in the center of the square, with life-size figures of people and stock. But the thought of making a manger inside a cave of Meteora, in a visible way and with a unique result, is too remarkable to be reproduced.
Ornate lighting at night makes the manger conspicuous both from within the city and from miles away. In the huge cave, which looks like an ‘eye of God’, figures of the Virgin Mary, Christ, magicians and livestock were placed, while a huge star dominates over it.
Meteora: The power and work of God through the hands of the monks
It is considered one of the wonders of the world. One of the most enchanting and at the same time picturesque landscapes with sandstone cliffs inhabited by monasteries being one of the top examples of world architecture and engineering excellence.
Presently, only the monasteries of Great Meteoron, Varlaam, Agia Triada, Agios Stefanos, Roussanou and Agios Nikolaos of Anapafsas exist and operate. Every single day, thousands of visitors gather here from the four corners of the world to admire, meditate and pray.
To become acquainted with the life of the monks, to admire the incredible natural phenomenon, the artistic architecture, the iconography and to study the priceless historical relics.
Waves of serenity and religious fervor surround every inch of this blessed place.
Meteora owes its name to Agios Athanasios the Meteorite, founder of the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Great Meteoron), who named the “broad stone” that he climbed for the first time in 1344.
According to the prevailing opinion, the first hermits settled in the area in the 12th century. In the middle of the 14th century, monk Nilos gathered the monks, who lived isolated in rock caves, around the hermitage of Doupiani, thus organizing monasticism in Meteora.
Meteora is more than a tourist destination. It is a voyage bathed in the light of our spiritual being, in the discovery of the inner world and in our connection with the Divine.
How else can we describe the extent and depth of such an experience that transcends the barriers of the human intellect and unites us with our eternal heavenly abode? History, nature and faith converge to create an unforgettable journey.
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