The second most important monastery of the holy Meteora is situated on an almost 400-meter high peak. The first hermit here in the fourteenth century was Barlaam, who laid out a modest chapel.
The monastery still stands today, as it did many centuries ago, on a small site of its own size. It surprises all pilgrims and visitors by its strikingly deep spiritual richness. Every inch of this land is a history of Orthodoxy, a place where prayers to God have been heard in solitude for centuries.
The monastery is called In the Name of All Saints. Among ordinary believers the monastery is called the monastery of Barlaam. Barlaam is a historical figure, an associate of the creator of the holy Meteora, Athanasius of Meteora. However he was only the creator of a small chapel, which was eventually destroyed. In its place in 1511 the church of the Three Saints was built by the monastery patrons.
Legend has it that the Cathedral of All Saints built later on top of the cliff was built in 20 days. The real test for the monks and those who helped the holy people was the preparation of the construction. It took about twenty years of hard and constant work to manually lift the building materials to a height of 400 meters.
The monks' labor was rewarded by making the monastery a true gem of Meteora. It has been one of the most revered shrines of Orthodoxy ever since, in spite of all the wars and tragedies that have befallen the monastery. The monastery with its unique frescoes and temples is known throughout Greece and the Orthodox world.
Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades, brothers monks from Epirus who founded the monastery and restored the churches in the 16th century, are the patrons of the monastery. They were wealthy men, the sons of wealthy families. These monks not only rebuilt the monastery, but also provided its numerous, later brethren with everything they needed. By the sixteenth century the monastery had about 30 monks and possessed numerous lands, vineyards and olive groves.
The painting of the monastery's cathedral dedicated to All Saints was done by another famous iconographer of Thebes, Franco Catalano.
The holy relics of Saints Theophanes and Nektarios rest in the vestibule of the monastery's cathedral church.
The monastery library is famous for its collection of manuscript codices, many of which were created in the monastery in the 16th and 17th centuries.
A distinctive feature of the monastery is its difficult access and closed territory. Until the twenties of the last century, it was possible to get to the monastery only by climbing a rope ladder. With various technological innovations this would not have been enough to save the monks from invasion, steps were cut into the rock. Visitors, pilgrims and worshipers could now ascend to the sacred walls.
In the crucible of wars the monastery was looted and partially destroyed. But it was restored and revived. Today the monastery is active. Some of the oldest parts of the monastery are visited exclusively by monks, although thanks to permission, it is possible to visit these remote corners of the monastery as well.
Among the monastery's artifacts, one of the most popular sites for visitors is the altar, which today acts as a museum of the treasures of Varlaam Monastery.
Today, the monastery is home to several monks. It is open to visitors who don't mind climbing to the top of the cliff where centuries of revered temples were created. Here one feels most at one with heaven and the divine manifestations. The amazing beauty of the surrounding nature and the height of the spirit amaze all who visit this unique monastery of Meteora.
The monastery is open to visitors: In winter (1/11-31/03) 9:00-16:00; in summer (1/04-31/10) 9:00-16:00.
Closed: Thursday (winter), Friday (winter and summer)
From Kalambaki by cab or on foot through the village of Kastraki.
