In the beautiful mountain range of Agrafa in Pindos, near the village of Koumbouriana in Karditsa, we can see the male monastery of Panagia Spilaiotissa, dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi.
Between the slopes of the firs, it looks like a blue stone thrown in the green of Agrafa and the view high up the road is excellent. It's like hanging from the steep cliff and causes awe to the pilgrim. The magnificent monastery of The Cave is located at the top of a steep cliff, at a height of 900 meters.
Inside, the two temples stand out. The smallest, cruciform rhythm with an elevated roof, which is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is the oldest one (calculated in 1604). The great temple of Zoodohos Pigi was built in 1736 and is a three-aisled basilica with an elaborate wood-carved and gold-plated iconostasis of 1779. At the foundations of the monastery, is situated the sacred cave, where, according to tradition, the founders of the monastery found, after the revelation of the Virgin Mary, the miraculous icon.
The monastery played an important role in the struggles of 1821. Georgios Karaiskakis often held war meetings and councils at the Holy Monastery of Spilia (Cave), since its position was of particular strategic importance. The revolutionary government in 1867, had its’ headquarter in the Holy Monastery of The Cave (Spilia).
In the monastery there are, inter alia, holy relics of the following Saints:
Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis
Saint Charalambous
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Saint Apostle & Evangelist Luke
Saint Apostle Philip
The Apostles of Bartholomew & Barnabas
Saint George in Ioannina
Saint Panteleimon
Saint Rafael Lesvos
Saint George the Trophy Bearer
Saint Dimitrios Myrovlitos
Saint Lazarus four-days’
Saint Marine
Saint Apostle James (Jacob) the Brother of Jesus
Saint Basil the Great
Saint John Chrysostom
Saint Gregory the Theologian
Saint Apostle Andrew the first called and followed Jesus and
Saint Irenaeus the Bishop of Lyon.
There, today (since 2004) there is a brotherhood of monks, which struggles with zeal for its manning and renovation, assisted by the Holy Metropolis of Thessaliotida. It celebrates the Divine Feasts of Assumption and Zoodohos Pigi.
The monastery can be visited, although the road is relatively inaccessible. However, the beauty of the landscape of Agrafa compensates the visitor.
