Religious trip to Messinia

Messinia

From the castle and the historical centre of the city of Kalamata to the historical monasteries of the area, Messinia is undaoubtedly a land of rare natural beauty, the guardian of faith, tradition and history.

At the centre of Kalamata, near the church of Ypapanti, is the church of Agios Konstantinos and Agia Eleni, which is the present day catholicon of the Monastery Kalograion. It is one of the characteristic monuments of the Byzantine city, which during its size – its area is approximately 120m² – it is assumed that it was its most important church, perhaps even its metropolis.

At the heart of the old city of Kalamata is one of the most important and famous Byzantine monuments of Messenia, the historic church of Agioi Apostoloi. It has particular importance to the city because it is closely related to its liberation, since it was here that the Revolution was declared in Messenia, on the 23rd of March 1821, and the first doxology took place.

One of the most beautiful and important Byzantine monuments in Messenia is the church that is located at the modern cemetery in Kalamata, on the eastern outskirts of the city.

It is dedicated to Agios Charalambos. It seems that it was the cemetery church of Byzantine Kalamata, which until the 18th century it was used as a metropolitan church.

At a beautiful, green area, approximately 25 km northwest of Kalamata, between the villages Kalogerorachi and Ellinoekklisia, is one of the most beautiful; and well preserved Byzantine monuments of the Peloponnese, the church of Zoodochos Pigi (Life Giving Source).

The name Samarina (and Samari for Ellinoekklisia) came from the corruption of the Latin Santa Marie or, according to another view, because the church was dedicated to Osia Maria the Egyptian.

At the village of Christianoupoli in Filiatra is the impressive, majestic church of the Transfiguration of Christ (Metamorfoseos Soteros), one of the largest Byzantine churches in Greece, which local tradition has compared to Agia Sophia in Constantinople.

At the top of a small hill with excellent view to the bay of Messenia, south of Nedousa, at the area of Alagonia, is the monastery dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary and is known as Monastery of Mardaki.

At a beautiful location with dense vegetation, on the eastern slope of mount Ithome, between the villages of Mavrommati and Valyra, is the majestic monastery of Voulkanos, one of the most well-known and important monastery centers in Messenia.

At an idyllic landscape of great natural beauty, at the settlement of Petralona, next to ancient Messini, hides the Andromonastiro, one of the most impressive monuments of Messenia, important for its particular architecture.

Its name was given so that it could stand out from the nearby monastery of Samarina, even though tradition relates its history and name with emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, who, in order to honor Patriarch Athanasius I, who came from Androusa, offered the two monasteries to his birthplace.