Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausa

Going up to Meteora from the village of Kastraki, just after the chapel of Panagia Dupiani and between the ruined monasteries of Prodromos, Agia Moni and Pantokratoros, the male Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Anapausa is located on its narrow rock, elegant and stately.

From the balconies of the monastery the pilgrim looks east at the Monastery of Roussanos, south overlooking the picturesque Kastraki and the forested mountain range of Pindos. To the west, the visual exploration stops with interest at the ruined monastery of Prodromos, while to the north the gaze is raised in admiration to the top of the rocks of the Monastery of Megalo Meteoro.

The rock, on which the Monastery was built, is small in area with a limited surface at the top. This also influenced the building configuration and the composition of the spaces that were developed into a multi-storey building. The carved staircase stops at the entrance, behind it there is a small vestibule. Going up, we find the chapel of St. Anthony and next to it the crypt.

On the first floor there is a corridor – showroom on the right, on the left there is the katholikon.

On the next floor and on the right another corridor with seats and the reception room with the fireplace. This is also where the visor is located. To the right of the corridor (to the east) is the galley.

Even higher up, on the third and last floor, there are the old bank, the chapel of the Baptist, the cistern and the cells.

At the top of the rock rises the stone bell tower.

On the northeastern side of the monastery hang two rows of wooden balconies with panoramic views. Below the Monastery and inside a hollow of a smaller rock, the ossuary has been moved.

It is not known to whom the Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausa owes its name. Probably to an old builder, which should be placed in the 14th century along with the beginnings of monastic life on this rock. Others associate the name etymologically with the verb anapausomai, so ‘Anapausas’ should mean a place of rest and recreation.

As in other monasteries, the monastery had a tower with the traditional bishop’s tower, which is still preserved today. For the ascent there was a wooden staircase with 62 steps and a height of 60-70m. But the wind ladder was always difficult and over time it had suffered several damages from abandonment, thus making the ascent very problematic. Only a small part of it survives.

Today there is easy access with the 80 carved steps, built in 1932-36.