The Great Meteoron Monastery-Front view, a photo from Trikala, Thessaly

Photographer's Note

** This is the front view of the Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoron and the only way to go inside it **

The Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration (Metamorphosis) of Christ (Great-Meteoron)

Some short infos:
The monastery, built on an imposing rock, is the oldest, the biggest and the most important among the monasteries of Meteora which are preserved today. It was founded little before the mid-14th century (around 1340) by a scholar monk of Mount Athos, Saint Athanasios Meteorites. In the beginning, he built on the rock a church to the Mother of God. He also dedicated the monastery (the Monastery of the Virgin Mary of Meteora rock-Petra-) to her. Besides, he built cells so that the monks who began to concentrate there could live. Then, he built another church honoured to the Transfiguration of Christ. This church constituted the monastery katholikon and the definitive name of the monastery attributes to this church.

An important person was also his successor and second founder of the monastery, monk Saint Iosaph (one-time king Ioannis Uresis Paleologos). During the 40 years of his monastic life, Saint Iosaph built cells, hospital, cistern, he renovated the church of the Transfiguration (it is the sanctuary which has today the form of a church) and he was among the first ones who built the monastery of Ypsilotera (of Kalligraphon) on a steep and inaccessible rock opposite the monastery of Great Meteoron.

The monastery flourished particularly in the mid-16th century. Thanks to imperial and royal donations it became the most powerful of all the monasteries of Meteora. In 1544/1545, today's magnificent nave and narthex of the imposing katholikon (the old church turned into sanctuary) were built. Later, a refectory, a kitchen, a hospital-home for the aged, a tower, small chapels and joined ladders were built. On the other hand, the monastery suffered from destructions: incursions, thieving, looting and fires.

The monastery of Great Meteoron has already more than 600 years of existence. Its monastic presence and its fame have never ceased to exist. It is a real bastion of orthodox monasticism and Christendom.

> More infos at Kalampaka.com site

MoosicMan, supereira, jjbach, MarekP, dimitrisT, Elric, yogi32 oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

MoosicMan (1231) 2005-05-06 8:43

Mpampis,
What a terrific shot of a beautiful monastery. The color and contrast are well rendered, and the composition and POV are just right. It looks like an Escher print, with all the different angles in stone construction!
Best regards,
Matt

avigur_11 (22553) 2005-05-06 8:48

Wow, fantastic image, Mpampis. A very interesting building with so many shapes and lines. The color is also warm and beautiful. I like it. Good note, too.

gordan (229) 2005-05-06 8:57

Spectacular view, it should be captured from more than one side. Maybe from far right.

supereira (9576) 2005-05-06 9:01

Great shot.Very good composition and DOF.Great colors and contrasts.I like the light and sharpness.I like the contrast between the building and the sky.I like the detail of the persons.Good job!

jjbach (9326) 2005-05-06 9:30

Γειά σου Μπάμπη,
Καταπληκτική φωτογραφία που δείχνει που πραγματικά είναι κτισμένο το Μοναστήρι. Όμορφα χρώματα κάτω από τον "σκληρό" ήλιο. Πάρα πολύ όμορφη σύνθεση!

Φιλικά Γιάννης

MarekP (4750) 2005-05-06 9:56

Spectacular picture, Mpampis. I like this kind of views combining old architecture and nature. Your point of view is very good. The violet color of walls seems to be rather unusual. Is it caused by special light or by postprocessing?

hdl (7035) 2005-05-07 5:13

100 pct Greece. Very impressive sight. How did you take that? From another rock? Anyway, good composition and warm mediterranean colours. I'll be back.

dimitrisT (928) 2005-05-07 6:12

Εξαιρετική φωτογραφία, Μπάμπη! Τέλεια χρώματα, όμορφοι όγκοι!

Bojan (1630) 2005-05-07 20:50

Hi Mpampis :)
Meteora is my personal favorite place in Greece and your presentation of the Great Meteoron brings great memories back.
Impressive!

joseelias (0) 2005-05-10 12:01

Another good photo of this place. Despite the light here is harder than in the previous, and thus makes more difficult to get nice colors, they are still quite good. The exposure is excellent because we can see so many details both in shadow as in light areas. A very hard thing to accomplish. Very well done.

PixelTerror (0) 2005-05-11 3:37

Kalimera Mpampis,
I like this wide and well framed view that gives a general view of the building and its spectacular settlement. The approach ramp moving towards the tower is a nice detail. Colors tend to be a bit on the pink side, but I believe this is an effect related to shooting time and light. A James Bond movie has been shot in one of this monasteries, is it this one ? Could be, as the tower seems to be the lift ?
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

Elric (560) 2005-05-12 19:12

Αλλη μια υπέροχη φωτογραφία σου Μπάμπη, μπράβο! Μου αρέσει πολύ το κάδρο σου και ο φωτισμός σου σ' αυτές τις δύσκολες συνθήκες (δυνατός ήλιος). Keep on travelling!!!!

ccooper (840) 2005-08-04 18:33

I like the composition here as the straight lines are balanced with a few curved ones and this adds interest to this structure. This is a place I want to see on my next visit. Very nice, original composition!

cherubin (1971) 2006-02-15 14:32

Καλησπέρα Μπάμπη,
αν και "κλισέ", η φωτό αυτή είναι πολύ όμορφη... μπορώ να πω ότι καμιά φορά το "κλισέ" είναι πιο δύσκολο, γιατί για να τραβήξε το μάτι πρέπει να έχει κάτι το καινούριο, το διαφορετικό...
μπράβο!
Χεροθβείμ