Kalambaka (Meteora)

The monasteries of Meteora were highly recommended to me last year. Geographically, the rock formations there are similar to the German Elbe Sandstone Mountains - but the orthodox monks in the 14th century improved that and crowned the rocky peaks with monasteries. :O
Initially, the monasteries were so inaccessible that they could only be reached by rope ladders, but older monks were lucky enough to be hoisted up with the goods lift. It wasn't until the 1930s that stone steps were built, making the monastery accessible to tourists.

I hike to the three monasteries of the Holy Trinity, Varlaam and St Stephen. In between, I climb the rocks against the spectacular backdrop of the deep plain below me. Fond memories of my time in nature come flooding back. Since mid-December, I have been spending time in big cities and I feel that nature needs to take up more space again in the coming months.
Soon there will be that time again. :)

Unfortunately, it is forbidden to take photos inside the monasteries and the interpretation of the Orthodox icon paintings remains a mystery to me, but I really like the way the paintings are painted because of their colourful expression.
I walk through the rooms like a blind chicken and look at the paintings without knowing their history. A severed head here, severed limbs there - ah yes, you can't seem to get by without violence. But it seems to have its righteousness, because everyone in the painting looks quite happy - with the exception of the decapitated man, who has a sad expression on his face.
I prefer to concentrate on the type of painting.

During my later research, I find out a few basics about the production and technique of the icons: a special process is necessary to ensure that the paintings remain true to colour for a long time.
The surface to be painted (walls, marble, wood) is first primed with several layers of gesso so that the colour can penetrate deep enough. This is then finely polished. The colours are mixed together using colour pigments and egg yolk, which has been known since ancient times as a super binder and makes the colours seemingly incredibly long-lasting. The paintings are then created using the colours and gold leaf.

Icons are intended to show a window to the divine and are therefore not an image of the real thing. They dispense with perspective, shadows and typical (earthly) lighting rules and reduce the motif to the essentials.

Adam - a traveller from South Africa - says over a glass of red wine in the evening "The monasteries here are great, but when I saw the Lidl I was happy. I know exactly what I'm getting. And then raves for a long time about the regional sweets you can buy there. =)Läs mer