Panagia Vlachernas monastery
The monasteries of Mt Menalon
Panagia Vlachernas monastery
The monastery of Panagia Vlacherna is located on the Kastania mountain, in the upper zone of the eastern face and inside a spacious rockshelter.
It is believed that the small in area but quite high mountain Kastania (1248 m.) was called Mount Knakalos in antiquity. Mt Kastania is the most imposing hill in the wider area of the Chotousa polje, where during the classical period the Arcadian city of Kafyai flourished, whose remains have been identified.
The katholikon of Panagia Vlachernas monastery
It is unknown when the establishment of Panagia monastery took place, however, a mok named Leontios, from a well-known family of Stemnitsa, is mentioned as its founder. His tomb is preserved inside the current church. Leontios probably simply took advantage of the protection of the rock roof, in which there is also a spring.
Panagia Vlachernas monastery
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Panagia Vlachernas monastery
From this first phase of the monastery, nothing is left except the tomb, around which a local breeder built in 1902 the new church dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Vlacherna. The nearby of Bezenikos, which is now called Vlacherna, took its new name from the dedication.
The interior of the katholikon of Panagia Vlachernas
In 1933, a room was added, where a nun was housed for a short time. In 1966, a chapel, dedicated to Panagia Faneromeni, was also added.
Mt Kastania
The location is served by a dirt road, which ends at the top of Kastania, where there are also telecommunication antennas.
Text and photos by T. Adamakopoulos
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A guide to Mt Menalon
Mt Menalon topoguide is available for Android devices as one of the dozens of available region of Greece via the topoguide Greece application. Mt Menalon is a member of the Peloponnese group. Get the Mt Menalon guide as an in-app purchase through the app.
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