The miniature and very picturesque convent of St. Barbara or Rusanu is located on the edge of a steep cliff. From a distance it looks like one house carved into the rocks. But the monastery has its own temple and monastic cells and magnificent viewing platforms for contemplation.
The monastery of Rusanu is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord and the holy Great Martyr Barbara. On the site of the ascetic exploits of the XIV-XVth centuries, the saintly brothers Joasaph and Maxim from Ioannina erected this cultural monument. Everything in it breathes with Byzantine times, the Christian Orthodox culture of the first half of the XVI century. In later times, the hand of the later authors did not touch the original church paintings. The value of these works of art and iconography is in the antiquity and originality of the images created by the first, unknown to this day, authors.
The frescoes of the monastery's kapholikon are considered by art historians to be one of the benchmarks of the post-Byzantine iconography of the Cretan school.
Once inside the walls of the monastery, it seems as if time has stopped. The prayers offered to God help heal the body and soul of each traveler. Unique are the vantage points at the top of the monastery, where from a circular balcony you can see the magnificent landscape of Meteora. A circular vantage point is also located on the approach to the monastery, where travelers can rest before the initial ascent to the monastery.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the monastery began to turn into an abandoned temple on top of a cliff. Despite the fact that the monastery was paved with a convenient passage on new bridges, in the 30s, it became deserted. For a long time, it was maintained by believers who wanted to preserve the monastery walls and revive life in the monastery in the future.
Only in 1980, the Greek state restored the monastery. The nuns began to live there permanently. The monastery finally becomes a women's monastery, largely due to the fact that for twenty years in the ruined monastery worked revered local residents elder Eusevia. The monastery did not collapse and was able to find a second life in the 1980s.
Today, only a few sisters live in the monastery, warmly welcoming many tourists and pilgrims visiting Meteora.
The monastery is surrounded by the splendor of Meteora's natural beauty. The air is pure, the splendor of nature and an environment that helps you feel immersed in a world of spirituality and holiness.
The monastery is open to visitors: Winter (1/11-31/03) 9:00-14:00; Summer (1/04-31/10) 9:00-16:00.
Closed: Wednesday
From Kalambaki by cab or on foot through the village of Kastraki
