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Mega Spilaio is a historical monastery in Kalavryta, the oldest in Greece, built in 362 at the opening of a cave. The wild and natural beauty of the landscape in combination with the architecture of the monastery are riveting. The monastery is a beacon not only of Orthodoxy, but also of Hellenism as it played an important role in the struggle for the Liberation of the Nation.

This point of interest is Mountainous and Rural. It is accessible all year round. It is accessible through public transport. It has no fee or ticket. Every day: 09:00-13:00 & 14:00-19:00.

Location

The Monastery is located ten kilometers north-east of Kalavryta on the road that connects the national road Patras - Athens with Kalavryta, and is built in the opening of a large natural cave (hence its name) of the Helmos mountain range, above the steep ravine of Vouraikos river, at an altitude of 899 meters. Completely in harmony with the wild and impressive landscape of the area, the eight-storey complex of the Monastery captivates even the most indifferent visitor. The monastery's catholicon, dug into the rock, is a cross-shaped temple, inscribed with two splints. The main church has frescoes from 1653, remarkable marble inlays on the floor, a wood-carved iconostasis, etc. while in the narthex the frescoes date back to the beginning of the 19th century.

Chronology

The Monastery, which is considered the oldest in Greece, was built in 362 AD. by the Thessalonian brother monks, Simeon and Theodore. While the two brothers were in Jerusalem, they each separately saw an apparition with the command to go to Achaia and find the Holy Icon of the Virgin Mary made of mastic and wax, crafted by the Evangelist Luke. After successive wanderings and revelatory dreams, they met here in 362 AD. the daughter Euphrosyne, a shepherdess from the village of Galata (Zachlorou). Euphrosyne led them to the cave where the sought-after Holy Icon was, which the "Divine Council" herself had earlier discovered, and by the direction of a goat from her flock, who was going to the cave to drink water from the spring that was there. This spring of the cave - later made of marble - is today, known as "the Spring of the Maiden", holy water, while Euphrosyne is honored as a Saint. The Holy Icon, according to tradition, was located next to the spring and was guarded by a terrible dragon which was killed by lightning when it attacked the two monks who were trying to clear the sacred area from the dense vegetation. Then the two monks built a small temple and some small cells with the help of the multitude of believers, who flocked to worship the miraculous icon of the Virgin. In fact, many of the faithful stayed for solitary exercise. Slowly, the Monastery became one of the most "polymonastic monasteries" and experienced great prosperity and glory. The original temple survived until 1934, when it was destroyed by fire. The property of the Monastery included properties in Constantinople, Smyrna, Thessaloniki, and large areas in Achaia and Ilia, the so-called "Metochia". The Monastery was destroyed at least four times by fires, in 840, 1400, 1640 and 1934. But each time the Holy Icon was miraculously preserved. Emperor Andronikos the Elder is said to have rebuilt the monastery in 1285 after a fire.

Mega Spilaio played an important role in the uprisings against the Turks. In 1770, the metropolitan of Patras, Parthenios, at the head of armed forces, besieged Kalavryta. Then the abbot of the Monastery of M. Spilaeus with other monks and with the cross in hand went to Kalavryta where, through mediation, he succeeded in ending the siege and allowing the Turkish families to leave safely. Thanks to this act of the abbot, when the revolution was later suppressed and hordes of Albanians were looting the Peloponnese, the Monastery managed to be saved and at the same time save many Greek lives.

During the Revolution of 1821, the Monastery was a beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism but also a center of resistance against the conquerors and although it received many attacks, it was never conquered. The event that stood out was the repulse of Ibrahim's advance in June 1827. On June 21, the Ottomans Sami Efendi and Sehnetzip Efendi, under the orders of Ibrahim, called on the monks to hand over the Monastery to him, writing among other things:

"Abbot, this movement of the Romans it won't go well, therefore, as a wise man, where you are, think deeply that you will not find a good end and you will be defeated."

On June 22, the then abbot Damascenes gave the historic answer to the Turks: "... it is impossible for us to worship because we are sworn to our faith, or to be freed or to die fighting, and according to our opinion, the sacred oath of Our homeland. ... if you come here to fight us and defeat us, it is no great harm, because you will defeat the priests, but if you are defeated ... it will be a shame for you and then the Greeks they will be heartened and chase you everywhere...". And indeed, Ibrahim's army was forced to retreat after a battle on June 24, thanks to a brave defense by the Petmezaians and Photakos.

In recent times it was again destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1937, having been placed under the auspices of King George II who also founded its new wing. In December 1943, Nazi troops ransacked the monastery and executed 16 people, visitors, subordinates and monks. Another nine monks were executed at the "Psilos Stavros" position. The remaining cells from the 1934 fire were set on fire. After the war, new buildings were erected.

Heirlooms

The Monastery Museum, in addition to the important relics of the Greek Revolution, has a rare banner with the figures of three Byzantine emperors, sigils, manuscripts with excellent miniatures, precious golden crosses with Sacred Wood, copper engravings, portraits, Gospels on parchments, the omophorion of Chrysanthemum Notaries, gold-embroidered Epitaphs, antimensia, Byzantine icons of great value, etc. Its library is also of great value, with more than 3,000 volumes of books and a number of ancient manuscripts. In a special chapel, reliquaries with the bones of many Saints and the carts of the founders of the Monastery are kept.

The Holy Icon of Panagia Megalospelaiotissa

A prominent place among the sacred relics of the Monastery is occupied by the Miraculous Holy Icon of the "Virgin of Megalospelaiotissa", which is the work of the Evangelist Loukas (one of the three he created and are preserved to this day). According to reliable historical accounts, the Evangelist Luke, after the death of the Apostle Paul, acted, like the Apostle Andrew, in Achaia, where he probably wrote his wonderful Gospel and the masterpiece "Acts of the Apostles". So when he came to Achaia, he brought with him from Palestine the specific Holy Icon (blessed by the Virgin Mary herself) which he later donated to the first Christians. At the time of the persecutions they fled for safety to the Cave where they hid her. When they themselves died or were killed for Christ, the Icon remained in the Cave until it was miraculously discovered by Saint Euphrosyne. It is embossed, three points thick and made of wax, mastic and other materials. She wears a robe (dress) colored and gold diagrams. It has been tarnished by the many fires. The body of the Virgin Mary is turned to the right, with her head inclined towards her Son, holding him in his right hand (Dexiocratousa), who with his left hand lightly holds the left palm of His Mother, while with his right he holds the Gospel. To the right and left of the wax Image, angels are present, after fear. In the four corners of the Icon, on the right, six-winged Seraphim and on the left, multiple Cherubims.

Source: Wikipedia

Photo source: Wikipedia & Tourist guide of the Municipality of Kalavryta: (discoverkalavrita.gr)

Link: youtube.com 

Source Link: el.wikipedia.org