There really comes a time when you start looking at the world without glasses: pink, green or yellow. And the world still looks amazing. And so everything becomes simple, easy, understandable. You begin to see the miracle in the trivial things and no longer see the need in the big ones. Such a mature peace and contentment comes from somewhere.
Traveling is the easiest way for me to escape from the daily routine. And before leaving Peloponnese, we want to see as much as we can. For today's trip we chose the Monastery Of Agios Georgios Feneos. We went there for the second time.
On the way to the monastery, we passed by vineyards, beehives, streams, stone-built mountain villages, narrow bridges, deep green mountains, the marshy lake of Stymphalia and the great valley of Feneos, and there we came across the beautiful artificial mountain lake Doxa. In its emerald waters is reflected the imposing volume of the mountains of Corinthia. It is an attraction of rare beauty and natural beauty, a landscape of incomparable natural charm that, not by chance, has become known with the nickname "Corinthian Switzerland".
And there, in mountainous Corinthia near the village of Goura, we found the Holy Monastery of Agios Georgios Feneos. This monastery is named as new to distinguish it from the old one that was located lower down.
The old monastery of Agios Georgios was founded in the 14th century by a Kalavrytian monk. The transfer of the monastery to its current location was due to the flooding of Lake Feneos. At the end of the 17th century, it appears that the greatest flood had occurred. The old monastery was flooded, and the monks were forced to leave it looking for a higher, safer location. From the old monastery, the small church that has been renamed to Agios Fanourios has survived to this day. The chapel is connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land. According to the experts, in a few years due to the erosion of the subsoil, it will remain as an island, and it will only be visited by boat!
Nowadays, the monastery of Saint George Feneou, surrounded by the glory of its centuries-old history, is a quiet and peaceful corner, full of peaceful beauty - framed by lush greenery, not far from the picturesque Doxa Lake and traditional mountain villages. In the center of the monastery is the catholicon and the cells are arranged around it.
Today, a rare day within the monastery walls goes by without numerous visitors, who are drawn to this place like a magnet. In the parking lot, visitors are met by the monastery dog, who accompanies them to the monastery courtyard.
We walked around the monastery. From the paved courtyard we climb the external stairs, which lead to the highest floors of the monastery. On the first floor, there are the storerooms and auxiliary spaces, on the first floor are the cells, while on the second floor are the bank, the kitchen and the mansion, from the balcony of which you can't get enough of admiring the magnificent view of the lake.
Inside the temple, holy relics are kept, such as silver censers, chalices and icons of saints. In a special showcase are reliquaries made of silver and inlaid mother-of-pearl decorated with religious representations.
The Monastery of Agios Georgios also houses the Secret School that operated during the Turkish occupation. It is preserved to this day in excellent condition and is available for visit. During the times of the Revolution of 1821, the Monastery functioned as the Headquarters of the Friendly Society.
During the year, the two monks are busy with agricultural work, the maintenance of the monastery and the supplies. The monastery's income also comes from the sale of sweets, the obolos of the visitors and the exploitation of timber from forest lands belonging to the monastery.
Then we went in the rose gardens, which are spread out on different sides of monastery. The cultivation of the rose is not considered difficult: all that is required is carving at the roots in order to protect them from weeds. The birds and the buzzing of bees accompany us throughout our tour of the peaceful grounds where, in addition to rose bushes, you can admire numerous cherry, cherry, chestnut, pear, pine and fir trees.
Today, the monastery of Agios Georgios, with its glorious long history and its spiritual and material contribution to the region and the homeland, is a center of attraction for visitors.
The location of the monastery is unique - among natural landscapes of extraordinary beauty, in no way inferior to the alpine landscapes of Switzerland. From the height of the monastery's glazed verandas, as if hanging between the sky and the earth, you can admire the indescribable beauty of nature for a long time. The view is peaceful. It offers us a landscape of rare beauty with the plain of Feneos spread out in front of it!
The sanctity of monastery's space combines the majesty of nature and creates a mysterious atmosphere for us there. Inside the temple, the faint dim light, the sweet fragrance of incense, the burning candles, the flickering candlelight, the chanting, create feelings of awe.
Currently, only three monks live in the monastery. In the monastery living room, you can enjoy traditional Turkish delight with a glass of cold water, or a cup of Greek coffee, accompanied by a rosette of wonderful rose jam, made by the monks themselves from rose petals. It was impossible to leave without tasting their rose jam.
Leaving behind us the important spiritual monument, all our senses are overwhelmed. Mountain images, the immense beauty of the lake and the primal emotions create this earthly paradise.
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With love 
Photos are taken by me.
漏 2024
