The Ascetic Monastic Tradition of Meteora
The Holy Meteora, renowned for its breathtaking scenery, features towering rocks that reach heights of over 600 meters. Centuries ago, this remarkable location attracted the hermit monks of Meteora, who laid the foundations for the site to become one of the most significant Eastern Orthodox monastic communities.
Perched atop these majestic cliffs and nestled in the numerous caves surrounding them, the first hermits and anchorites ascended during an era when Christianity was still emerging. With unwavering determination and deep faith, they established the foundations for the monastic community of Meteora that would develop in the centuries to follow.
The earliest evidence of these hermits arriving in the area is lost to time, shrouded by a rich tapestry of local myths, legends, and traditions. Great ascetic figures inhabited these perilous rocks, striving to escape the temptations of the flesh and a world they perceived to be in moral decline. Driven by an irresistible yearning to reconnect with their Creator, they found nothing else mattered to them.
These hermit monks practiced a strict form of ascetism, known within the Christian Tradition as the heremitic type of monasticism. Asceticism is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures through self-discipline, self-imposed poverty, and simple living, often to pursue spiritual goals.
The hermit monks of Meteora
The hermit monks, through their constant prayers and intense spiritual efforts, sought to achieve great spiritual heights in their quest to unite with the essence of God and His divine powers. These men, who were once ordinary and confined by the limitations of the material world, took to the rocky cliffs and caves of Meteora to establish a personal relationship with the Creator. Their aim was to meet God, face to face—a monumental endeavor for any soul that is difficult to explain to those who have not experienced or felt such a profound calling.
The Deep Mystical Practices of the Orthodox Church
They say that upon the moment of our soul’s creation, we gain an intimate knowledge as we face directly the grace and power of God, our Creator. In that instant, the soul forms an everlasting love for God. This powerful longing to reconnect with the Divine becomes a dominant unconscious driving force behind humanity’s deep rooted desire to establish religion and worship God. It inspires mankind’s effort to recreate the long-lost inner paradise through culture and civilization. This deep mystical insight shaped the actions of the first hermit monks who dwelled in the caves of Meteora and those who followed their example.
The first recorded hermit monks of Meteora
Some indicative dates for the arrival of hermits in the area are either the 9th or the 10th century. By the end of the 11th century and the early 12th century, a small ascetic community had already been established around Meteora. During this time, the hermits recognized the need to gather for Sunday liturgy, so they decided to build a small church dedicated to the Theotokos, which quickly became the center of worship for Meteora’s hermit monks. This church is also referred to as the “Kyriako,” which translates to “Sunday,” or “Protato,” meaning “the first.”
The first organized monastic communities of monks
The Church of Theotokos, commonly known as the chapel of Doupiani, features significant frescoes dating back to the 13th century. This church, along with the Doupiani hermitage, played a crucial role in uniting the hermit monks of Meteora for Sunday worship. This gathering was instrumental in establishing the first organized monastic community in the region. During the 12th century, there was a gradual transition from a state in which hermits were largely unorganized and isolated to a more structured monastic community. This important shift laid the groundwork for the third and final phase of monastic development in Meteora: the establishment of the first monasteries in the mid-14th century, nearly two centuries later.
Visit Meteora and the Badovas Hermit Caves from Athens
