MONASTERY OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF ANAPAFSAS

It is the first monastery to be encountered when leaving the village of Kastraki in the direction of the Meteors. The name Anapafsas was probably that of one of the owners of the monastery. You can admire mainly beautiful frescoes by the Cretan painter Teophanis dating from 1527. From the outside, the monastery of St. Nicholas seems to blend into the stone. The monastery is built on a small and narrow rock at the top. Inside, the rooms, which are particularly cramped, are arranged in superimposed floors. After a small hillside and a few steps carved into the rock, we reach the entrance of the monastery. The staircase in front of the shop leads to the church of Saint-Nicolas-d'Anapafsas and its superb frescos. Born around 1500 in Crete, the author of these frescoes, Teophanis Strelitzas, or Baltas, was introduced to hagiography very early on. Although married and father of two children, his religious sensitivity led him to dress in the cassock and transmit his passion to his sons, who became the continuators of his art.

The first part we enter is the narthex. Opposite on the left is the icon of the Virgin Mary and Jesus holding the big finger of her hand. Higher up, on the same wall, are represented the Dormition of Saint Nicholas (a rather rare image) and some scenes of Christ's miracles, including the healing of the blind man. Do not miss on the right wall the representation of Adam giving names to the animals. The skill with which the colours are rendered on the faces of the saints is extraordinary, particularly thanks to the interplay of light and dark shades, which makes it possible to express both the spirit of celebration and the pain

The second room is the apse, where you can see, on the left, the Virgin praying for the faithful. On, the dome, Jesus is surrounded by many angels who hold the chalice, the three-branched candlestick and the cherub. Below appear the prophets, and, at the four corners, the four evangelists. Do not miss also small icons dedicated to scenes from the life of Christ, such as the baptism of Jesus, the Palms, the Resurrection of Lazarus, the kiss of Judas

Leaving the church, climbing up the steps of the stairs and going as high as possible, you can enjoy a superb view, especially of a rock below where, between 1634 and 1653, the small monastery of Prodome was built, whose ruins are still visible today.