Holy Monastery of the Great Cave

Located 10 kilometers from the town of Kalavrita, the Monastery of Mega Spilaio is perched on a wild and steep cliff, 120 meters high, topped by an ancient tower.

 

The cave's entrance is enclosed by monastic cells, and the view from the balcony is truly spectacular.

According to tradition, the monastery was founded in 362 AD by the monks Symeon and Theodore at the site where the icon of the Virgin Mary was discovered at the back of the cave, near the spring. The icon, believed to be made of wax and mastic by the Evangelist Luke, was found by a shepherd girl.

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In 840, Mega Spilaio was burned by the iconoclasts. In 1285, Andronikos Palaiologos rebuilt it, marking the beginning of its rise as one of the wealthiest monasteries. It suffered fires again in 1400 and 1600, when the church and its valuable library containing rare manuscripts were destroyed.

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The monastery burned for a fourth time in 1934, resulting in the loss of invaluable relics. It was rebuilt in 1936 but was set ablaze and looted by German forces in December 1943. The Germans executed 22 monks and all monastery staff, throwing their bodies off a nearby cliff.

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Today, the monastery’s relic hall houses remarkable and unique treasures. Mega Spilaio celebrates its feast day on August 15th, in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.