Agia Lavra, Historical monastery in Kalavryta, Greece

Agia Lavra is an Eastern Orthodox monastery on a hill at 933 metres on the slopes of Mount Velia, about 4 km west of Kalavryta. Its katholikon, rebuilt in 1850, is a domed basilica; the monastery also keeps the two-aisled, cross-vaulted church of its original site, the Palaiomonastiro, cut into a cave mouth with two rows of frescoes.

The monastery became the birthplace of Greek independence when a bishop raised the revolutionary flag there in 1821, initiating the uprising against occupation. This moment marked a turning point in the region's history and the nation's struggle for freedom.

The monastery's museum keeps the vestments of Bishop Germanos of Patras, the Gospel given by Tsarina Catherine II of Russia, and the relics of St Alexios, a gift of Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus in 1398. Its library holds 3,000 printed books, the oldest dated 1502. Gold- and silver-thread embroideries worked in Smyrna and Constantinople date from the 16th century.

Agia Lavra stands about 4 km west of Kalavryta on a hill at 933 m, below Mount Velia; the sources give no rail link, so approach by road from the town. The grounds are on a slope, with the 1850 church and museum buildings set at different levels.

The monastery's library holds about 3,000 printed books, the oldest dated 1502. Its collection was built up by Cyril Lavriotis in 1796 and by the Kalavryta teacher and monk Grigorios Ioannidis in 1929. The museum also keeps the banner of the 1821 oath, made from the veil of the church's Royal Doors, displayed with the fighters' weapons.