Kalavryta - Patras - "Cavino"

Kalavrita is an ancient Greek city, a land of memorable places, heroes and saints. In this area St. Luke Evangelist preached the Christian faith . This city and the two holy monasteries located in its vicinity, "Ayia Lavra" and "Mega Spileon" played a significant role in maintaining the Orthodox faith and national identity of the Greek people during the Ottoman period. During the Second World War, Kalavryta again became the arena of partisan activity, this time the partisan of ELAS (People's Liberation Army of Greece) were against the fascist invaders. "Greek Khatyn" - this is how they name  Kalavryta after the events that unfolded here in December 1943.

The Ayia Lavra Monastery (Holy Lavra) of the Assumption of the Mother of God is the cradle of national Greek rebirth. Great shrines are kept here - the honest head of the holy righteous Alexy, a man of God and the honest head of St. Philaret the Merciful. In this temple in March 1821  the Archbishop of Patra German, under the flag of the Holy Banner of the Holy Lavra (the first flag of the Greek nation), swore freedom fighters: "For faith in the holy Christ and freedom of the Motherland."

A bus crossing over a surprisingly beautiful mountain landscape will lead us to the lost in the rocks ancient monastery of Greece “Mega Spilaio” (Great Cave),  where the miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “The Great Cave” is stored. This wax, relief image was created according to legend by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Virgin in 36 A.D. The monastery has a large collection of particles of holy relics and sacred relics.

Pilgrims full of spiritual mood will be able to reinforce their strength with a wonderful dinner in a restaurant that  religious Greek family runs. The cozy atmosphere and excellent Greek cuisine will leave an unforgettable impression. Here, in a small store, you can purchase goods of  monastery production - wine, olives, sweets and much more.