Prodromos Monastery

It is at the foot of Mount Klinitsa and the landscape in the whole area is striking, with overhanging rocks and dense vegetation. The Prodromos Monastery is built almost entirely into the hollow of a huge 600m high cliff, indeed part of the building is actually in a cave in the cliffside. From a beautiful path you will get to the Philosophou Monastery, on the other side of the impressive Loussios gorge.

Photos

+ 2

The Prodromos Monastery is at the foot of Mount Klinitsa and the landscape in the whole area is striking, with overhanging rocks and dense vegetation. The Monastery is built almost entirely into the hollow of a huge 600m high cliff, indeed part of the building is actually in a cave in the cliffside. Looking up at the monastery buildings, they almost seem to be part of the dramatic cliff on the edge of the Loussios Gorge.

There were once various hermitages in the place where the monastery is today. One of these became home to a larger number of hermits, and oral traditions tell us that they built a church dedicated to St John the Baptist (Ioannis Prodromos) around 1167. However, many scholars are of the opinion that the monastery was founded at the end of the 16th century.

The main church dates back to 1167. It is decorated with frescos which date from around 1600 and the very small iconostasis in the church was built in the 18th century. The sanctuary is believed to have been the first church built after the hermitage, and has two alters, the oldest of which is "embedded" in the rock. Directly above the main church is the first hermitage of Agios Nikolaos.

The monastery of Prodromos had about 40 subordinate churches and hermitages. Two of these are above the monastery, in almost inaccessible sites on the rocks.
It holds celebrations for St John the Baptist on August 29 and Saint Athanasios on May 17.
During your visit, the monks will offer you coffee and show you around the interior. Make sure you go through the abbot’s quarters in front of the main church to the open balconies on the top floor so you can enjoy the breathtaking view. 
Follow the beautiful path to get to the Philosophou Monastery, on the other side of Loussios gorge. 

Did you know that

Tel.: 27950 81385.

It is about 9 km from Stemnitsa.

Location

Find the destination on the interactive map below.