Sights Ιερά Μονή Βουτσάς Παναγιά η Πωγωνιώτισσα Info and Map for Greveniti Ανατολικό Ζαγόρι, Zagorochoria

MONASTERY OF VOUTSAS PANAGIA POGONIOTISSA

The Monastery of Voutsas or Panagia Pogoniotissa as previously called, is situated on the banks of the Varda River, a tributary of Arachthos. There, the river forms a small valley in the middle of a beautiful forest and the location is superb. Geographically the Monastery of Voutsas placed between the villages Greveniti, Frampourari and Doliani. From village Greveniti, in East Zagori, a dirt road of 5 km. leads to the monastery, which is built at 720 meters above sea level. According to tradition, the monastery was founded by the Emperor Constantine IV Pogonatos in 672 AD. According to the inscription on the catholic was renovated and painted in 1680, preceded by the destruction by the Turks in the 15th century. The interior of the church was painted by the priest and first abbot Athanasios and the monks Anthony and Nicodemus. Then the monastery comprised about 80 monks. One of the abbots, Panteleimon, organized the library of the monastery and managed to raise 400 volumes of old editions and rare manuscripts. Last century, on 13 October in 1943, the Monastery of Voutsas burned completely by the Germans during the occupation and was marked historical and preserved monument. From the burning only saved the catholic. In 1950 the premises were rebuilt. It is worth noting that the Germans also burnt Greveniti and other villages of East Zagori and proceeded residents’ executions. Monastery of Voutsas was in a particularly strategic position, because there was the road linking Epirus and Thessaly and Western Macedonia. Whatever information we know about the Monastery of Voutsas come from a manuscript called "goldcode" or "Chronicle of Voutsas". This manuscript, which was published by John Lambridi was by a membrane and had great extent, since there were recorded all the events associated with the Monastery of Voutsas.

If you visit the Monastery of Voutsas will discover the small zoo that exists outside the monastery and see animals such as deer, geese, ducks, peacocks etc. Near the Monastery of Voutsas is the bridge of Kourtia. It is a stone, double-arched bridge that you can reach if you follow the dirt road that starts from the monastery and ends in the river Vardas.

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