Weekend Experience: Prodromos Monastery And Its Mystery

People now live in bubbles that they blow themselves out. A safe, comfortable, maybe even somewhat conformist existence. You observe, participate, or at least imagine that you are doing it, and at the same time you are in a slightly isolated space. You will be supported and protected here.

And we can compare the bubble with pride, excellence - no matter how impressive it is at first glance, it bursts at the slightest touch of a needle. Even an innocent injection of fate is enough, and only an empty space remains from the huge bubble.

Whatever you do, that is the fate of all illusions. But instead of the collapsed little worlds of the ego, new ones somehow appear... Let's stay in those comfort bubbles of ours... Until they burst. Or we get out of it and make our life more interesting.

To make our life more interesting, we went to one more monastery in Arcadia. Perched literally on a vertical rock in the gorge of the Lousios river, the Monastery of Prodromos took our breath away. Take in mind, access to the monastery requires walking in the ravine of Lousios, so it is suitable to wear comfortable shoes.

The visitor has access to the monastery from two points and only by a path. The main highway reaches the small church of the Transfiguration. From there begins a path of about 800 m that leads to the monastery which emerges almost meteorically hanging on the steep rock. The second route is longer but ideal for hiking. It starts from the Filosofou Monastery and reaches the Prodromos Monastery by crossing the Lousios river by specially designed paths.

Monastery was founded in the 12th century, but became widely known only in the 16th century. To this day, Prodromos Monastery remains one of the most important monasteries in the Peloponnese. During the Greek revolution, the Holy Monastery of Prodromos played a decisive role in the care and supply of the Greek fighters. We can still see the marks from the Turkish volleys on the great gate. They bear witness to the heroic battles fought not only in the surrounding area but also within the precincts of the monastery. During the Revolution of 1821, the monastery, due to its inaccessible location, served as a stronghold against the Turks, as a military hospital, but also as a refuge for the civilian population.

Carved into a natural cavity - a cave 128 meters long and 0.6-8m wide, rooted at the foot of a steep rock, at a height of about 200 meters above the bed of Lousios, the altitude of the monastery is about 500 meters. According to legend, when the monastery was being built, a mason fell down together with a chipped stone. When the others went down to pick him up, they saw him coming up the path with the stone on his shoulder.

It consists of two buildings. To the east is the original building and to the north the newer one, built in 1860. These two buildings, with the additions and the construction of new floors that have been built from time to time, form a single five-story building complex.

In addition, the balcony of the monastery generously offers you a beautiful view towards the gorge of Lousios, and the constant sound of the rushing and rushing waters of the river. All around, nature rages and the sounds from the waters of the Lousios river and the chirping of birds create for the visitor an unprecedented calm, in a wild and at the same time idyllic landscape.

At the edge of the small courtyard of the monastery, with its stone-built fountain, a heavy imposing door with holes from the volleys of the Turks, took us up to its rock-cut catholicon, which interior is decorated with frescoes from the 16th century.

Before we went up to the top level and the large balcony, according to the old Greek tradition of hospitality, monks offered us and other visitors coffee, cookies, fresh water and olives to us and other pilgrims. You are guaranteed attention and hugs. While from the wooden balcony we enjoyed the unique view of the gorge's paradise. The monastery has an important library, while its monks deal with iconography and sewing church clothes and cookies in the reception area of the monastery.

The monastery itself is extremely picturesque. It is worth looking into the dark cave church, where only in the reflections of the lamp can you see the barely visible faces of the saints. You can also take a walk through the gallery, but only if you are not fearing the heights. The monastery's operating hours are from 09 – 13, 17-20. The main thing is to have time to get inside during these opening hours, and you can stay in the monastery as long as you want.

The visit to the monastery can also be combined with a hike that reaches the Filosofou Monastery or with another that goes to Ancient Gortyna.

It is considered one of the oldest monasteries in Peneloponnesis. The Monastery is also called the princess of the gorge, because it dominates the most beautiful part of the gorge on the west side of Lousios.

The sun, meanwhile, crossed the zenith and did not recommend sticking out into its direct rays at all. In small dashes, we descended to the bottom of the gorge to the saving shade and life-giving coolness of the river.

Behind the bridge we found a good place for swimming, with a small creek. At first the water seemed to be 18 degrees, and we soaked in the water with great pleasure. After some time, it seemed that the water was still cool, and after two hours we could only go knee-deep into this river. To be fair, the water there were 13 degrees. Subsequently, we repeatedly tried to swim in the same river downstream, but to no avail: with each turn the water became more and more icy.

Having swum, we returned to the car in the parking lot. Before returning home, we decided to explore the area a little more and we drove along the western side of the gorge. We slowly drove further. The gorge here has already ended, the Lucio River has entered the valley and the water in the river has become icy. We were not averse to taking another swim due to the scorching heat, but the water was cramping our toes faster than we dipped them into it.

It was one more great day. It brought us a lot of new adventures.

💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝

With love @madeirane
Photos are taken by me.
© 2024