The monasteries of Mt Menalon

Timiou Prodromou monastery

The monastery of Agios Ioanis Prodromos (or Timios Prodromos) is located on the eastern side of the Lousios ravine and is built in a narrow rockshelter, in the middle of a vertical and overhanging cliff. The complex is quite large and multi-storey and is accessed by a wide cobblestone either from the Philosophou monastery or from the Stemnitsa side.

The date of the establishment of the monastery is uncertain, with the most likely period estimated between the 11th and 12th centuries, a period of reconstruction of the Byzantine ecclesiastical structure, during which many monasteries were built in Central and Southern Greece.

The katholicon of the monastery, which is dedicated to Timios Prodromos, is a single-aisled basilica and is decorated with remarkable 16th century frescoes. Near the monastery stands the imposing church of Agios Athanasios.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the monastery participated in the economic and social uplift of local societies, being related to the powerful families of Dimitsana. In 1834 the Prodromos monastery, like hundreds of other monasteries in Greece, were closed, according to the royal decree on the dissolution of small monastic communities. Very soon, however, in 1838, the community was reconstituted and since then the monastery has been operating continuously with a small monk brotherhood and a working staff. In recent years, a workshop for painting and sewing ecclessiastical vestments has been set up.

The monastery can be visited. Spots of particular interest are the wooden door with multiple holes from the conflicts of the 19th century, the old fountain in the enclosure and the remarkable collection of about 1000 old books and manuscripts.

Trails passing by Prodromou monastery

Even to reach the Prodromos monastery, one has to do a short hike. Furthermore, all the trails of Lousios valley, such as Menalon Trail, O32 National Trail and the Long Trails Yellow Trail SAOO and Red Trail SAOO pass very close to Prodromou monastery.

Information about these trails can be accessed through the page menu system.

Text and photos by T. Adamakopoulos