Holy Meletios monastery, Medieval Orthodox monastery in Kithairon mountains, Greece

Holy Meletios monastery is an Orthodox monastic complex nestled in the mountains with a cruciform church topped by a central dome and surrounded by stone walls containing multiple chapels and residential buildings. The church sits at the heart of the enclosed compound, with structures arranged around an open courtyard that forms the center of daily life.

Founded probably in the late 11th century on the site of an older monastery by Hosios Meletios, a Cappadocian reformer of monastic life, the monastery was endowed with income sources by Emperor Alexios Komnenos. It became a stauropegic foundation and was renovated in the 16th century by Nikanor, Metropolitan of Athens. After decline it was attached in 1883 to the Faneromeni monastery of Salamis, refounded in 1928, and in 1950 turned into a convent.

The monastery is home to a community of nuns whose daily presence shapes the life within its walls and greets visitors with genuine hospitality. This active religious community transforms the site from a monument into a living spiritual place.

Morning and early afternoon visits work best when daylight illuminates the grounds and the community is available to welcome visitors respectfully. The entire site is easy to navigate on foot since all buildings cluster together within the stone walls and are connected by simple pathways.

The monastery's catholikon, dating to the 12th century, is a small cross-in-square church whose dome rests on four columns; a chapel dedicated to the Taxiarchs is attached to its south side. The tomb of Hosios Meletios lies in a crypt inside the church, and the surviving wall paintings of the nave and narthex date to the 17th century.