Holy Monastery of Kipinas (1212 AD)

Location

The Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Kipinas is located about 55 km south-east of the city of Ioannina, shortly after the village of Kipinas or Mistras. It is built about 40 meters higher than the modern road, in a hollow of a steep rock, above the gorge of the Kalarritikos River. The location chosen for the construction of the Monastery is awe-inspiring, since its buildings are carved into the rock, giving the impression that they are floating.

The Monastery of Kipinas, resembles the historical monastery of Panagia Soumela in Pontus, but in much smaller size and with a visibly humbler aesthetic. Even the landscape has several similarities with the lush forests, the high steep slopes and the two of these "floating" Monasteries. That is why the Monastery of Kipinas is characterized as the "Soumela" of Epirus.

Driving the narrow and winding road that descends from Kalavryta to Tzoumerka, passing through lush forests and steep slopes, the visitor reaches the rock below the Monastery.

From the beginning of the uphill path, the stone-paved path leads to the entrance of the Monastery. The view of the steep and forested gorge crossed by the Kalarritikos River before joining the Arachthos, takes your breath away.

After a few minutes of relatively easy ascent, the small entrance of the monastery is visible along with the heavy wooden bridge and the long chains that connect the monastery to the path.

Historical overview

The Holy Monastery of Kipinas is a male monastery, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. It celebrates on Good Friday, the feast of the Life-Giving Spring. It owes its name to the fertile gardens that the monks cultivated along the banks of the Kalarritikos River. This name was later taken by the neighboring settlement of Arboresi. There is also the opinion that the toponym Kipinas means local cave, indicating the location of the complex.

Due to its location and shape, the Monastery has been a magnet of attraction since the 19th century, both for local researchers, such as Seraphim Xenopoulos, I. Lambridis, P. Arabatantinos, as well as for foreign travelers, such as Leake and Pouqueville. From them we have valuable information about its historical course, the myths and legends associated with it.

Regarding the foundation of the monastery, the historical evidence is scarce. According to Seraphim Byzantium or Xenopoulos, Metropolitan of Arta, the Monastery was founded in 1212 by Bishop Gregory, when the Despotate of Epirus was created. However, others argue that it was founded by monks who disagreed with the local bishop and founded their own monastery in a secluded area. According to a legend, some monks from the nearby monastery of Vylizas saw a light in the darkness one night and following the mysterious light, they reached the opening of the rock, where they saw an icon of the Virgin Mary. Immediately, they began the process of erecting a hermitage inside the rock, as they believed that it was a miracle.

Over the centuries, the Monastery has been renovated several times. Although access was not easy, it appears that it was often raided by bandits or Turks. This explains the original hanging wooden bridge at the entrance. As a last resort of protection from thieves, the monks built it by connecting it to a lever inside, so that whenever they saw the thieves arriving, they would lift the lever and the entrance to the Monastery would be sealed permanently, creating a gap of four meters. When the thieves reached the end of the path, they saw the door of the Monastery tightly closed and a steep cliff separating them from their coveted prey.

The monastery enjoyed particular prosperity in the 18th century and its monks were distinguished for their social work. In 1760, the abbot Kallinikos, donated money for the construction of a bridge at the location of Armorisi, a characteristic of the Monastery's prosperity.

During the Ottoman period, according to tradition, it developed intense spiritual activity for the awakening of the nation and a Secret School operated inside it. Thus, they managed to preserve the language, religion, traditions, but also to keep the Greek national spirit high. It is also said that the Holy Monastery, due to its special location, was also used as a fortress for the Greek Revolution of 1821.

Interior of the Monastery

The period of the peak of the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Kipinas should be placed from the late 17th century onwards, when the complex takes on the form in which it survives to this day, the Catholicon is painted, the iconostasis is built and a little later the patriarchal images are also painted. The main complex of the Monastery includes on the ground floor the reception-sitting room, which today houses the Exhibition and the Icon Painting Workshop "The Scytale", the kitchen and the Catholicon with the entrance to the cave. Also the walkway (corridor with stairs) leading to the floor with the elevated Agionartiki and the three cells. In its entirety, it is built on a plateau at the entrance to the cave.

The Catholicon belongs to the type of single-nave basilica with dome. It consists of the Pronaos, the Main Church and the Holy Altar, which are integrated into the cave. This is a common architectural type, both during the Byzantine and the post-Byzantine period. The eastern part, as well as the dome, have been carved into the natural rock.

On the sculpted rock, rare frescoes of high aesthetics with quite careful details have been preserved. They are distinguished by their interesting iconographic program with the beautiful representations and the varied colors, according to the iconographic program of the time and the style of the school of northwestern Greece. The frescoes have been restored in recent years by the actions of the Holy Monastery. They are divided into 3 zones and depict respectively full-length figures of Saints at the bottom, chests with other Saints in the middle zone and scenes from the Gospel at the top. In the dome, Christ the Pantocrator is depicted.

The original iconostasis of the Catholicon, along with rare icons and valuable relics, were stolen in 1997, in a mysterious way, and were never found. It was wooden, gilded and dated from the late 17th to early 18th century. It was adorned with the patriarchal icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Forerunner, the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, as well as 15 small icons from the Twelvetide. On the gates of the Beautiful Gate, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, the Great Basil, Nicholas of Myra and the prophet-kings David and Solomon were depicted. Behind the gates of the Beautiful Gate, there was a large sliding image of Christ that completely covered the view of the Holy.

The current existing iconostasis was created after the theft of the old one and resembles the old one.

The Holy and the area where the Holy Table is located are also shaped inside the rock with frescoes that have not yet been restored. In the niche of the Holy, the Virgin Mary Platytera enthroned and in the niche of the Prothesis, the Epitaphios.

South and west of the Catholicon, the rest of the complex, namely the Exhibition (old reception area) and the kitchen, extend. In the kitchen area, an opening was found, covered by a cabinet, which leads to a crypt formed in the natural rock. When you open the two leaves, the interior of the cabinet with the shelves is visible. But if someone pulls the wooden back, it rotates and reveals the crypt, which was used as a refuge for the monks and the inhabitants of the area.

Going up to the floor from the walkway, the three cells of the monks and the elevated Agionartiki offer unique views of the village and the river. The cells of the monastery, shaped with various wooden extensions on the vertical rock, create an interesting architectural complex that is perfectly integrated into the wild landscape of the area. There was a fireplace in each of the cells.

The Monastery operates more as a tourist attraction, since no monks live there anymore. The labyrinthine layout of the space with the little rooms that are bathed in light from the small wooden windows creates a sense of calmness. The decoration is ascetic and simple and combines wood and stone harmoniously.

The cave

From the Pronaos of the Catholicon, we enter the antechamber of the cave with the stalactites and stalagmites, which reaches a length of 240 meters. For about twenty meters at the beginning, the visitor walks bending over. The cave was explored in 1956 by the speleologist Anna Petrocheilo of the Hellenic Speleological Society. It consists of a central cave or gallery, framed by parallel corridors and narrow passages, to end in a low room and further in a narrow passage.

It is a classic type of cave. Initially, it was formed as the bed of an underground river, which was gradually transferred to a lower level due to earthquakes. That is why at the foot of the rock, where the monastery is located, there is abundant water. Today it is partially accessible, while a significant part of it is lit to further facilitate the visitor.

Hand-painted icons "The Scytale"

Recently, the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Kipinas has been housing and operating a modern shelter for the livelihood of young people from poverty and need. This is a group of at least 25 people from all over Greece, artists and students of the School of Fine Arts of Ioannina, which was created with the aim of offering everyone in the world, regardless of their financial means, the opportunity to acquire unique hand-painted icons, relics and special works of culture at very affordable prices. All the works are handmade, painted on immortal oak wood, with quality colors and luxurious gilding. This effort is called "Scytale", from the shape of the depiction of the works of this group, and symbolizes the baton of faith that it hopes to pass on and to preach the Orthodox Faith hand in hand to the next generations.

This God-pleasing social work took shape 20 years ago by the priest and iconographer Elias Chrysospathis. He argues that the greatest blessing of these works is that they are made with the deposit of the soul of these young people and the freshness of their youth, seeking to rebuild a Greece where the symbols of our existential orientation will once again be the indelible faces of our Saints! So, the effort and goal of these children would be said to be a second "resurrection of the icons" in our lives from the decline of standardization - "iconolatry". Works of art that transcend the ages for the recipients of the centuries, not just lifeless photocopies of one use.

Thus, the Holy Monastery of Kipinas is the "employer" of these children, which, by hosting and sanctifying their works in its bowels, makes them available to the Christian people who visit it, offering even the poorest the opportunity to acquire a "true" Christian icon that will write history!

Attractions of the area

Holy Monastery of Panagia Tzouka

The Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Kipinas is a dependency of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Tzouka, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and built at an altitude of about 800 meters. Its foundation is dated to the 17th century and is due to a miracle of the holy icon of the Virgin Mary, which according to the holy tradition was found on the rock "Tzouka". The inhabitants built a small church nearby and placed it there. However, the image returned and stood at the same point on the rock. Thus, according to the will of the Virgin Mary, the monastery was built at this point. From the Monastery, visitors can admire the breathtaking view of the gorge of the Arachthos River, a landscape of exceptional natural beauty.

Tzoumerka

The Athamanian Mountains or Tzoumerka are one of the largest mountain ranges in western Greece that cross the prefectures of Ioannina and Arta. The place is of unique beauty and charm, not only for mountain lovers, but for every visitor. Stone-built villages, monasteries, rivers, gorges and waterfalls create a unique setting.

Syrako - Kalarrytes

Beautiful Vlach villages, with unique stone houses, perched on two mountain slopes that are separated by the steep gorge of the Kalarrytikos River. Visitors reach them after an impressive journey that is worth walking on their stone cobbled streets and enjoying the unique landscape.

Kalarryotikos River

The Kalarrytikos River is one of the most beautiful rivers in Greece. It is a tributary of the Arachthos, which starts from Lakmos (Perister) and Karditsa. It is a turbulent river that follows a route through wild gorges, with waterfalls and stone bridges, before flowing into the Arachthos. It is ideal for activities such as rafting and kayaking.

Conclusion

In the 19th century, the Kipinas monastery was abandoned. Since 1931, it is a dependency of the Holy Monastery of Tzouka and belongs to the Holy Metropolis of Ioannina. In recent years, it has been renovated and can be visited by pilgrims.

In conclusion, the location, shape, cave, history and surrounding area make the Holy Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Kipinas a special place for pilgrims, ordinary visitors, researchers, speleologists and nature lovers. Mainly, however, for those who feel the need to be literally and figuratively between heaven and earth.