Holy Monastery of Agios Markos in Proti
Hidden within the Varnountas mountain range, at an altitude of 959 metres and just a short drive from Florina, lies the Holy Monastery of Agios Markos. It was founded in 1864 by Metropolitan Meletios of Moglena and quickly became an important spiritual centre. During the Macedonian Struggle, the monastery became a key refuge for Macedonian fighters, offering shelter and support to figures such as Pavlos Melas and Lakis Pyrzas. In the years that followed, successive conflicts led to its gradual decline, until a major restoration in the mid-2000s under Metropolitan Theoklitos revived the monastic complex. Today, the monastery stands restored and active, offering visitors a serene atmosphere, a sense of continuity with the past, and wide-open views across the lush slopes of Mount Varnountas.
