Across from the village of Lapanagoi, which belongs to the municipality of Kalavrita, at around 30km from the actual town of Kalavrita, located on the right side of the river Selinounda, one finds the monastery of Makellaria which is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

According to an inscription at the monastery, it was built by General Velissarius Justinian in 532 A.C., in order for him to be redeemed from the massacre of “En touto nika” (“in This, win”) in Constantinople. Right at the centre of the monastery one sees the Byzantine-style chapel of the Virgin Mary, built in the form of a cross with a beautiful wooden-carved icon screen, on which sits the wonder-working icon of the Virgin. It is a work of art from the Byzantine period, admired by all for its particular feature of giving the impression that wherever you stand the Virgin’s eyes follow you.

The monastery was destroyed by the Turks during their rule in 1458 and was later renovated by a priest-monk called Neophytos. Originally, the monastery’s name was Panagia Lithostrotiotissa (laid with stones) as it was built on a rock. It took on the name of “Makellaria” from the word “makeleio” (destruction) in 1458, following a Turkish siege that lasted for many days and finally their invasion that led to the massacre of the monks and their acolytes. Later on, the fathers decided to rebuild the monastery lower down in a cave so as to be protected from the weather conditions. However, each morning the builders would find the construction site dismantled and their tools placed upon the rock where the current monastery lies. Following discussions and arguments, they decided to build it once again at the location their tools were being placed. When digging the foundations, they found a soil-pot full of olive oil, which is preserved until today, and an icon of the Virgin.

Legend has it, that during another attempt by the Turks to invade the monastery, the abbot made a deal with the Turkish General; to throw a church oil lamp off the rock and if it broke then they would surrender, but if it did not, then the Turks should turn around and leave without burning down the monastery. So the abbot threw the oil lamp and two Turkish soldiers went down, only to find it hanging off the branch of a tree. They brought it to their General who in turn kept his promise. Later on, a fight broke out among the Turks as some of them were displeased for not carrying out their original intention.

The most precious treasure kept at the monastery is the Virgin’s icon and the pot with the olive oil. There are also objects such as riffles, yataghans and pistols from the famous battle of Kafkaria in 1827 during which the Greeks crushed Ibraem pasha, as well as clothing items worn by the Greek fighters of 1821.

A number of very important relics were stolen in September 1980. These were: