Pilgrimage tours to Greece are of interest to travelers for the reason that it was here that the first Orthodox churches were built, and the spread of the Orthodox faith, in particular to our land, began.
Those who decide to visit Greece will be offered to make both a pilgrimage to the main Orthodox shrines and to go on a tour of little-known holy places (in any case, pilgrims will experience spiritual joy and get acquainted with the history and culture of this country).
Meteora
To get to a large monastery complex, one had to overcome a difficult path before. Today, a good asphalt road from the city of Kalambaka has been laid to the monasteries and priceless shrines.
Pilgrims are invited to visit the following monasteries:
- Varlaam Monastery: here you can see mosaics made of mother-of-pearl and ivory, as well as visit the museum, where you can admire rare manuscripts, finely crafted wooden crosses, icons of the post-Byzantine period.
- Monastery of St. Stephen (nunnery): Visitors view the monastic relics in the form of portable icons from the 17th-18th centuries and manuscripts of the Divine Liturgy (1400).
- Rusanu Monastery: the iconostasis (wood carving with gilding) and the frescoes of the vestibule in the form of a multi-figured composition (the fiery river of hell, angels, souls of the departed) are of particular value here.
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity: interesting for its main treasure - the Gospel in a silver setting (1539), as well as a chapel, which can be climbed by overcoming 140 steps carved into the rock.
Athos
Only men can get to Athos, and the fair sex can only take a look at the holy places from the boat (for several centuries, access for women has been closed here). To do this, you must first contact the relevant services and get a blessing to visit any of the monasteries. So, pilgrims can visit the monastery of St. Paul (he owns 2 sketes and 12 small chapels and temples) - here are the relics of Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, Maximus the Confessor.
Patmos island
Usually everyone gets to Patmos from cruise ships to visit several interesting sites:
- Monastery of St. John the Evangelist: from its terraces you can admire all of Patmos and other islands, and in the monastery library you can see at least 3000 books, more than 1000 manuscripts and 900 codices. As for the services, they are held in the monastery once a day (03: 00-06: 00).
- the cave of the Apocalypse: here John the Theologian lived with his disciple Prokhor and heard the Voice of God (“Revelation” was recorded from his words by Prokhor). A church with two chapels was erected above the cave: one chapel was consecrated in the name of St. Anna, and the second is set aside for the cave itself, where a narrow staircase leads, steeply descending downward.
Thessaloniki
Those traveling to Thessaloniki with pilgrimage purposes visit the Church of Hagia Sophia (the wall mosaics and frescoes of the 11th century are of particular value), the Basilica of St. And others; the relics and blood of the saint are also kept here), the Church of St. Nicholas Orphanos (famous for its 14th century frescoes and marble iconostasis).
