The Monastery of Megalo Spilaio (Great Cave), Kalavryta

The Monastery is located 10 km northeast of Kalavryta, near the road that connects the Patras-Athens National Road with Kalavryta. It is built at the opening of a large natural cave in the Helmos mountain range, above the steep gorge of the Vouraikos River, at an altitude of approximately 900 meters, and is situated close to and higher up from the village of Kato Zachlorou. It is believed to have been founded in 362 AD by the Thessalonian monk brothers Symeon and Theodoros. The monastery was first destroyed by fire in 840, and subsequent devastating fires occurred in 1400 and 1640. During the Greek War of Independence (1821), the monastery served as a refuge and center of resistance against the occupiers. Despite being attacked numerous times, it was never captured. A notable event was the repulsion of the invasion by Ibrahim Pasha in June 1827. In more recent times, the monastery was again destroyed by fire in 1934, but it was rebuilt in 1937 under the patronage of King George II, who also laid the foundation for its new wing. In December 1943, the German occupation forces looted the monastery and executed 16 people, including both monks and visitors. Nine additional monks were executed at a location known as "Psilos Stavros". The remaining cells from the 1934 fire were burned. After the war, new buildings were constructed. Pictured: A postcard showing the Monastery of the Great Cave in Kalavryta, before World War II. ©Municipal Museum of the Kalavryta Holocaust.