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Monastery of Kipina

Kalarrytes village, Northern Tzoumerka region, Ioannina Prefecture, Epirus / Western Greece

By Desolation Road

January 7^th, 2021

The Monastery of Kipina, hooked on a vertical rock of the western slopes of the Pindos mountain range for at least 350 years, steep and isolated, was more than a Byzantine sanctuary for the Virgin Mary. Within its rocks and stone walls, the serenity of prayer often alternated with the terror for what was happening outside of them.

Its rocks, and the stalactites in the 240 meter deep dark cave that they’re hiding, were the evocative setting of some dramatic moments in the contemporary history of Hellenism. They formed the hideout, and from time to time the secret school, of the local villagers by the Ottoman conquerors, until the liberation of the area in 1913. For this purpose, it was built to look like a hidden fortress, isolated from its only entrance by lifting the sole wooden bridge, called lisia.

At other times, the Monastery was the secret base for the continuous uprisings of the disobedient peasants against the Turks, especially in 1854 and 1878. And, later, of the partisans who were secretly conspiring there to prepare their sabotage acts against the phalanxes of the Nazi troops, during the WW2 Occupation of Greece in 1941- '44.

For the mastery and skill of the famous stone craftsmen of the surrounding villages of Syrrako, Kalarrytes or Pramanta, the intricate carving of the cave dome or the construction of the Monastery with local stones, so that it almost does not stand out from the surrounding landscape, was an easier task than what the terrifying way in which the Monastery hangs on the rocks suggests.

Monastery of Kipina

Monastery of Kipina

Thus, around the end of the 17th century AD, the Kipina Monastery was created, which was initially said to have been an isolated hermitage for only a few monks. It got its name either from the gardens that the monks were preserving in the area (kipoi, in Greek) or from the Slavic word kip, which means image or painting.

This region of the Tzoumerka Mountains prospered during the 18th century, both because it was located in the passage from the region of Epirus to that of Thessaly and to the large plain from where goods were transported, and by immigrants who were sending money to their families from abroad.

During these times, the Monastery secured the money for the creation of its exquisite hagiographies of the Saints and the scenes of the Gospel. And also, for the abbot Callinicos to build the bridge over Kalarrytikos river that connected the Monastery with the nearest village, Arborisi (Kipina).

Inside the Monastery’s cave the water of an ancient riverbed still flows, while from its windows one can hear from the depths of the Valley the rushing of Kalarrytikos, a tributary of the large Arachthos river.

The temple of the Monastery is located in the dimly lit depths of the cave and its dome, as well as its sanctuary, is carved into the rock. The iconostasis is wood-carved and gilded. In addition to the temple (katholikon), the building has three monks' cells, the old kitchen, balcony, and several crypts inside the rock. The cells, on the upper floor, are made of stone, have a wooden roof, large windows and low fireplaces.

The decline of the Kipina Monastery began in the early 20th century. With very few monks left, in 1931 it became part of another nearby large Monastery and was permanently deserted in 1944. Since then, it has suffered robberies and vandalism, but at the end of the 20th century it was restored by the Ministry of Culture. Today, the cells are renovated and in excellent condition.

Perfectly intergrated to the surrounding enviroment, the Monastery of Kipina was a hide-out from the Turks and later the Nazis (photo: dkilim / Creative Commons)

Visiting Kipina Monastery

The Monastery of Kipina for the Assumption of Virgin Mary is open to the public, and Father Lambros is usually there to welcome you. Otherwise, you should look for the keys in the cafe of the village Kipina (phone: +30.26590.61186). If you happen to be there in the week after the Orthodox Easter, every year, on the Friday following Easter Sunday the Monastery celebrates during the Orthodox feast of Zoodochos Pigi.

Footnotes

Copyright © Desolation Road / Panos Diamantis

FootNotes

Copyright © Desolation Road / Panos Diamantis

© 2026 Desolation Road

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