Holy Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi in Melissotopos
In a lush green setting near the village of Melissotopos, at an altitude of 870 metres and just 24 kilometres east of Kastoria, you will discover the Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi, a place of serenity and centuries-old spiritual tradition. It is considered the oldest monastery in the region, with its foundation dating to 1080 AD, during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. According to local tradition, the monastery was built on the site of a miraculous spring dedicated to the Virgin Mary, whose healing waters are said to have cured Emperor Alexios I Komnenos during the Norman invasions.Originally dedicated to Agios Panteleimon, the monastery entered a new chapter in 1457, when two hieromonks found it abandoned, rebuilt it, and rededicated it to Agioi Anargyroi (Kosmas and Damianos), the Holy Unmercenaries. Over the centuries, it experienced periods of prosperity and hardship, yet its spiritual presence in the religious life of the region remained strong.
The present katholikon was built in 1857 and is an impressive three-aisled timber-roofed basilica. Inside, you will admire the ornate carved wooden iconostasis with icons dating from 1763, along with finely crafted marble relief decorations. Around the katholikon, the monks’ cells, reception hall, auxiliary spaces, refectory, and kitchen preserve the image of a self-sufficient monastic community. Particularly noteworthy is the monastery’s cellar, where barrels dating back to the 15th century survive as a rare testimony to everyday monastic life through the ages. Around the complex, numerous chapels and roadside shrines complete the spiritual atmosphere of the site, creating a landscape where faith, history, and contemplation remain deeply connected.
