Holy Monastery of Osios Nikanoras in Zavorda
On Mount Kallistratos, in an imposing position above the Aliakmon River, awaits one of the most important post-Byzantine monuments of West Macedonia, formerly a major administrative and spiritual centre of the region: the Holy Monastery of Osios Nikanoras. The oldest building of the monastery is its katholikon, probably dating to 1528, around which the monastic complex was developed, including the abbot’s quarters, cells, refectory, guesthouses and auxiliary spaces. Here, valuable items are kept, such as relics, icons, codices, Gospels, the Lexicon of Patriarch Photios and the icon of Christ the Saviour, discovered by Osios Nikanor following a divine vision. The katholikon (main church) is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour and belongs to the Athonite type, with a dome supported by four square piers. Inside you will see frescoes attributed to the Theban painter Frangos Katelanos, as well as later repaintings of 1592, 1869 and the late 19th century, as confirmed by dedicatory inscriptions. The narthex frescoes and carved wooden iconostasis also date to the 19th century. As you explore the monastery, two chapels stand out, dedicated to Agios Athanasios and Agios Ioannis Prodromos, where the tomb of Osios Nikanor is located. Dominating the complex is the impressive three-storey bell tower of 1873, 20 metres high.
