Between lush mountain peaks and deep canyons, In the refugee village of Paranesti Municipality of Paranestiin the mountainous Drama, the Holy Transfiguration Monastery of the Savior stands. Literally built on a rock, it seems to be hovering between earth and sky. A breathtaking landscape and at the same time calms the soul.
Stay of the Great Despotic Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord And the monastery is filled by pilgrims to watch the Sacred Sequences. Undoubtedly, this monastery is not just a destination, it is an experience. For the faithful, it is a place of blessing. For nature lovers, a paradise of serenity. And for all, a hidden ornament of the Greek land worthy of being discovered.
The route to the monastery is a separate journey to the heart of nature. Uphill trails, wooded slopes, the absolute silence of the mountain interrupted by the leaf thrill, the constant chirping of the birds, the sound of the thousands of cicadas.
Simple and straightforward, the monastery is incorporated into the landscape as if been there from always. The cells of the monks, the small courtyard and the Catholic exude a sense of serenity, almost transcendent. From the hill, the view is breathtaking: a panorama of forests, gorges and sky, which makes the visitor stand silent for a while to glorify the greatness of the creator.
By the Crusaders to the Pontic Refugees
In recent years, this forgotten But full of history, legendary traditions of the monastery began to regenerate. The beginning was made by the blessed Metropolitan of Drama, Cyro Paul and continued with the predecessor of Metropolitan Drama, Mr. Dorotheos, who actually supports her reopening. Indeed, about a year ago, two young and active monks decided to settle in the monastery, re -operate it, creating a spiritual refuge for every visitor.
The settlement of Prasinada -built After the exchange of populations at the foot of the Mountain Pagalo At an altitude of 713 meters- it is a beautiful, small village. “Wedged” on the lush slope of the hill is covered by unparalleled natural beauty with many waters, since there are tributaries of Nestos. The inhabitants of the village are Pontian refugees who came from Trabzon after 1920 in this remote settlement of Drama and fought very hard under particularly difficult conditions to survive in their new homeland.
In the 1928 census, the settlement numbered close to 350 inhabitants. Today, it is barely reaching 45 permanent residents. The greenery is located northeast of the Drama Regional Unit, 61 kilometers from the city of Drama, and administratively belongs to the Municipality of Paranesti. The route to the village is asphalt, but it has many turns, but the traveler will compensate the unparalleled beauty of nature.
Boasting and protecting the inhabitants of Prasinada are The Holy Rock of the village, where it dominates the Holy Transfiguration Monastery Built in the ruins of an older Byzantine monastery (485 AD – 1204 AD), which was buried there for eight centuries without anyone knowing its existence. At this site, where the present monastery is now present, relics of saints were found, who witnessed the Crusaders in 1204 AD. during the 4th Crusade.
The restoration of the monastery, the task and work of life
The restoration of the Holy Monastery It was a work of life for the late Prefect of Drama Constantine Evmiridis. The erection of the monastery was done in the context of the fulfillment of his mother’s trumpet. During his parliamentary term, his relatives from the greenery were asked to repair a chapel of sheets, who had in the village, on a rock.
Konstantinos Evmiridis, when he went to the area and began digging on the rock, found the foundations of the old monastery there, which – according to tradition – burned by the Crusaders. Digging, also found the cart of the last abbot of the monastery, who was fragrant. Also, during the excavation, ecclesiastical utensils and coins were found, which were delivered to the Holy Metropolis of Drama.
Inhabitants of Prasinada, long before they are revealed The ruins and start building the new monastery said they often saw in their sleep One old man says to them, “Still building my monastery!” One of the people who built the monastery said, and one day he saw a walk on the tiles of the monastery, an elder.
Kostas Evmiridis had a similar experience. One day, sitting on the rock and gazing at the magnificent landscape, he saw a great elder from the ravine. He got up and moved towards him. However, As he arrived three meters from the Elder, he disappeared! In the greenery, Kostas Evmiridis spent almost all his property on the construction of the New Monastery and the promotion of the sacred rock.
In 1993, on the day of the feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior, the first Divine Liturgy was performed in the New Monastery, after 800 years that was ruined and abandoned. Those who climbed that day on the Rock of Prasinada and had traveled to Pontus, they were surprised to say that the environment And the location in the greenery has too many common morphological elements with those of Pontus.