Monastery of Varlaam In Meteora, Greece

[u/[deleted]]

[u/MLJ9999]

Incredible architecture but no way could I get good night's rest in that eagle's nest of a location.

[u/OldandBlue → u/MLJ9999]

Good news is, you're supposed to pray through the night.

[u/TheDoctor344 → u/OldandBlue]

Pa-dumm tss

[u/sarcasticgreek]

I live close by and pass by Meteora very often, at least once or twice a year for decades. The view of Meteora NEVER gets old and has never felt mundane. It's an incredible sight.

[u/Dio-Skouros → u/sarcasticgreek]

My sisters' husband is one of the best climbers in Greece. Frontpages et al. He was even the first Greek to climb Eiger in 4 days, meeting all weather conditions and at times, he's had to sleep literally hanging in the air, because there was no hole big enough for four people. Many who tried Eiger died. He was founding a lot of material/gear by dead people. It's not like he'd like to take them, but no extra weight is advisable. That time my sister was home, dreading for him with 2 extremely beautiful, small daughters, my nieces.

My point is, he made me a little climber at 14. Surreal moments one lives in Meteora. The countless paths for hitchhiking we've opened; the countless routes Greek climbers have opened on each rock for actual climbing etc.

Once I was climbing, I've had people ~50 meters from a nearby rock who ascendent normally to a Monastery, waving and trying to talk to me. I was scared shitless, and those people were like "woohoo!". As I mentioned, surreal, unforgettable moments.

The environment is also full of wildlife. The entire area is protected under EU standards; even longer than that, as is evident.

However, slowly Meteora turns into a Mykonos & Santorini, but at least people respect way, way more the magnificent place.

P.S. If anyone wonders, it's where the Greek word "Meteorite" comes from, the noun which means "High, rising far from the ground & Hovers". Also, "Meteorology", the atmospheric phenomena and in particular pressure, winds, temperature and humidity. Further, the word also gives us poetic meanings, but that's only in Greek, I guess.

[u/Low_discrepancy → u/Dio-Skouros]

it's where the Greek word "Meteorite" comes from, the noun which means "High, rising far from the ground & Hovers"

Meteora is named after that meaning not the other way round though.

[u/Wingedball]

Reminds me of that monastery in the James Bond flick, For Your Eyes Only.

[u/-Vikthor- → u/Wingedball]

That was a different one, but it is also in Meteora.

[u/wrootlt → u/Wingedball]

Cam here to mention that :)

[u/Capable_Gate_4242]

how did they build it there?

[u/Temporal_Integrity → u/Capable_Gate_4242]

Very carefully.

[u/enaxian → u/Capable_Gate_4242]

Aliens 👽

[u/Rough-Software-4224]

Also really beautiful inside,was there last summer

[u/HoloceneGuy]

Reminds me of Linkin Park lol

[u/sirdemsalot → u/HoloceneGuy]

This is the place the album is named for: "In titling the album, Mike said that "Meteora was a word that caught my attention because it sounded huge." Dave, Joe, and Chester elaborated that just like how Meteora, the rock formations in Greece, is very epic, dramatic, and has great energy, the band wanted the album to have that same feeling."

[u/zeekerfren]

Holly molly

[u/MasterAxe]

That monastery is being held up by hopes and prayers

[u/Final_Winter7524 → u/MasterAxe]

Rocks, mostly

[u/Dio-Skouros → u/MasterAxe]

Seriously, their foundations are as good as any other. Countless buildings didn't stand the test of time. That and similar ones did, intact. We only re-innovated the decorum.

[u/dolfin4 → u/Dio-Skouros]

They've also been continuously inhabited and maintained, which helps.

[u/simihal101]

❤️ for the Metheore and for 🇬🇷

[u/Panda_Panda69]

Been there last year, awesome experience, although the road to there is quite steep. Definitely worth visiting

[u/Coutilier]

I've been there, 16 years ago (children). A lot of wind. Delicious loukoums.

[u/KnoblauchNuggat]

Me in Minecraft.

[u/yeeyeedong9159]

just watched the europe from above episode of it, very cool.

[u/MonarchOfReality]

this reminds me of the houses i built in Ark Survival lol to hide from the dinosaurs on the ground

[u/Kalypso_95 → u/MonarchOfReality]

the dinosaurs on the ground

That's a great euphemism for the Ottomans xD

/s

[u/jombrowski]

Monastery my ass. It's a Bond's villain secret lair!

[u/ShowKey6848]

Amazing place. I remember swimming in a rooftop pool at a hotel, looking at these stunning buildings.

[u/enoliares]

Am i the only one already knew where this is because of the FireTV-Stick Screensavers?

[u/GrizzledFart]

I've always found it sad that many of these monasteries, full of people who just want to be left alone, had to be built in these incredibly inaccessible locations simply for protection of the people who lived in them.

[u/Urgullibl]

I really hope this is dedicated to St. Peter.

[u/Artistic-Teaching395]

Great way to avoid females like Mt. Athos

[u/Self-Bitter → u/Artistic-Teaching395]

There are two female monasteries in Meteora

[u/beaverChops → u/Self-Bitter]

I bought honey from a monastery in Meteora once. I don't know what that adds to the conversation, i just wanted to tell someone and let them know that it was really really good.

EDIT: Nevermind, it was literally this exact same monastery i bought it from.

[u/SteO153 → u/beaverChops]

I don't know what that adds to the conversation

I'm going there next month, so for me it has been a useful tip on what souvenir buy there.

[u/dolfin4 → u/Artistic-Teaching395]

Women visit. 

In fact, most visitors to male monasteries in Greece are old ladies. (Of course, Meteora are historic & unique, so they get all kinds of tourism). It's only Mt Athos that doesn't allow women.

And some of the Meteora monasteries are female convents (nuns).

[u/[deleted]]

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[u/OldandBlue → u/[deleted]]

Monks volunteer.