Ypsilotera Monastery

Ypsilotera Monastery is an abandoned monastery on Ypsilotera Rock in the Meteora complex, positioned at approximately 585 meters above ground level. The building follows Byzantine architectural patterns and sits on a rock formation directly adjacent to the larger stone pillar that gives the monastery its name.

The monastery was founded in 1347 by Paschalis of Kalambaka and grew into an important center for copying religious manuscripts. It remained active during the medieval period before eventually being abandoned in later centuries.

The monks here were renowned for their meticulous manuscript work, dedicating themselves to copying and preserving religious texts by hand. Their scholarly work made this monastery a center of learning that drew attention from pilgrims and visitors across the region.

The best way to view this monastery is from the viewing points at Great Meteoron or Varlaam monasteries, which sit on higher rocks nearby. From these vantage points, the abandoned structure becomes clearly visible for observation and photography.

The monastery features Athonite architectural style, a distinctive building approach connected to the sacred Mount Athos tradition rarely seen in this region. This architectural choice makes it a notable example of how religious construction traditions from different parts of Greece were adapted to the mountaintop setting.

Location: Kalabaka

Location: Meteora Municipality

Elevation above the sea: 585.7 m

Part of: Meteora

GPS coordinates: 39.72509,21.62780

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:43