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Mega Spilaio Monastery

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In the opening of a large cave on the vertical rock, on the western slope of Mount Helmos, 11 km northeast of Kalavrita (Achaea, Peloponnese), literally hanging above the gorge of the Vouraikos river is the historic Monastery of Mega Spilaio, dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Greece, which according to the tradition was founded in 362 AD. The monastery building is an eight-story, built at the opening of the rock with the almost vertical front reaches a height of about 120 meters. The central temple is carved into the rock, on the third floor. It belongs architecturally to the type of inscribed cruciform temple with two narthexes and is internally decorated with frescoes of the 17th and 19th centuries.
The monastery has a rich library and a well-kept museum with rare books and manuscripts decorated with magnificent miniatures, as well as relics of saints and unique relics, from which stands a rare flag with the figures of three Byzantine emperors.

Additional Info

  • Regional Unit: ACHAIA
  • Municipality: KALAVRITA
  • Site: https://www.imkalaig.gr/dddd/item/1424-iera-moni-megalou-spilaiou
  • Location: Dimos Kalavriton
  • E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Telephone: (+30)2691021776, -21777, (+30)2692022401
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  • Lat: 38.0893438
  • Lon: 22.1750879



Read 2014 times Last modified on Sunday, 21 February 2021 21:14