The Monastery of Olympiotissa

The history of the Monastery dates back to the late 13th century. According to sources, it was founded or renovated between 1289 and 1303 with the patronage of the sebastokrators Constantine and Theodore Doukas, co-rulers of Thessaly. Its existence is confirmed by historical documents such as the golden bull of Emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos (1336) and the sigillion letter of Ecumenical Patriarch John XIV (1342), which established the Monastery’s autonomy from local authorities.

Originally a male and stauropegic monastery, it became a center of religious life and education, flourishing especially during the 16th and 18th centuries. Today it functions as a nunnery and continues to be a place of prayer, hospitality, and spiritual peace.

From the Transfiguration of the Savior to the Virgin Olympiotissa

Initially, the Monastery was dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior, but during the 18th century, the dedication to the Dormition of the Theotokos prevailed. The name Olympiotissa is connected to a touching tradition: the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary, which is now kept in the katholikon, originated from an abandoned monastery in Karya on Mount Olympus.

According to local legend, when the monastery of Karya was dissolved, the icon “set out on its own” to reach Elassona. A shepherd who saw a light shining from within the bushes threw a stone toward it in fear, and his hand immediately became paralyzed. The next day, the villagers found the icon with the stone embedded in it. The shepherd repented and was healed, while the icon was carried in procession to the Monastery of the Transfiguration, which from then on was named Panagia Olympiotissa.

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The Katholikon of the Monastery

The Monastery’s Katholikon impresses with its cloisonné brickwork masonry system, a fine example of the close relationship between Thessalian and Macedonian church architecture. Inside, the depictions of the Virgin Olympiotissa and the Saints stand out, painted with finesse and vivid colors. Despite the wear of time, the frescoes preserve their Byzantine grandeur and the devout spirit of their creators.

The church is dominated by the wood-carved iconostasis from the 19th century, the work of the renowned Dimitrios Metsovitis (1840). Carved from walnut wood and decorated with plant motifs, double-headed eagles, angels, and biblical scenes, it is considered a masterpiece of Metsovo woodcarving. Equally noteworthy is the ancient carved wooden door bearing an inscription dated 1296 – a date that indicates renovation and proves that the church preexisted the monastery itself.

The monastery has been designated as a historic preserved monument.

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Visiting the Monastery

The Monastery of Panagia Olympiotissa offers a unique experience to every visitor. The combination of historical memory, art, religious emotion, and the breathtaking view over the Elassona plain creates an atmosphere of serenity and reverence. Whether as a pilgrimage or as a stop of cultural interest, a visit to Olympiotissa is a journey into the spirituality and history of Thessaly. It is open to visitors daily throughout the year, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until sunset.

The monastery celebrates on August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, but also honors the Transfiguration of the Savior on August 6, preserving its original dedication. Every year, on October 5, the eve of the liberation of Elassona from Ottoman rule (October 6, 1912), a procession of the miraculous icon of the Virgin takes place from the Monastery to the Church of Saint Demetrios in the city center.