Makelaria Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Kalavryta Municipality, Greece

Makelaria Monastery stands on a bare, steep rock south of Lapanagoi, about 30 km from Kalavryta. Its catholicon is a simple single-aisle church with a barrel-vaulted roof, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos and holding two marble-carved candelabra made in 1813. Beside it, a larger Byzantine-style church dedicated to the Holy Trinity houses the icon of the Virgin in a carved wooden shrine. A small cave church of the Transfiguration lies lower down.

This monastery was founded in the 6th century and originally bore a different name. Turkish raids burned it severely in 1458, after which it was renamed to its current designation.

The name Makelaria comes from the Greek word for slaughter, makeli, recalling the massacre of defenders inside the monastery in 1458. The monastery celebrates twice a year: on 14 September, the Exaltation of the Cross, and more solemnly on 15 August, the Dormition of the Theotokos, when pilgrims gather on the rock.

The monastery sits around 30 kilometers from Kalavryta town center and requires travel over mountain roads. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for the elevation gain, especially when approaching on foot.

The site holds strong ties to fighters for local independence, with their personal belongings preserved there. This connection makes it a significant place of remembrance for regional history.