Saint Dionysios of Olympus, known in the world as Demetrios Kaletsis, was born around 1500 in the village of Sklatina in Karditsa, in what is now Drakotrypa. After passing through the monasteries of the Great Meteoron in Kalambaka, Mount Athos and others, in 1542 he settled on Mount Olympus.
At an altitude of 900m. inside the Enipeas Gorge, on a naturally fortified plateau, between two streams and 18 kilometers from Litochoro, he built the Old Monastery. He dedicated it to the Holy Trinity, but later it became known as the Sacred Monastery of Saint Dionysios of Olympus.
Saint Dionysios lived an ascetic life in a cave under a rock, which is about a 20 minute walk from the Old Monastery. The place was named “Agios Spilaios” and is still preserved today, while it attracts thousands of visitors every year. The chapel next to the cell of the Saint is dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos and celebrates on September 8th. At the location is also a spring of holy water which gushes from the mountain.
From the location of Prionia, which we reach by car, we descend the E4 path towards Litochoro. Before the Old Monastery of Saint Dionysios, we come across the characteristic clearings and a small hut. We turn right, and the path leads us in a few minutes to the Enipeas waterfall.
Returning to the E4, we cross the Enipeas via a wooden bridge and continue our journey for 20 minutes towards Agios Spilaios. From there we return to the Old Monastery where we can visit the katholikon, as well as the surrounding areas of the monastery.
The return from the Monastery can be done either by the same path, to Prionia and from there to Litochoro, or by car, to Litochoro.
At an altitude of 900m. inside the Enipeas Gorge, on a naturally fortified plateau, between two streams and 18 kilometers from Litochoro, he built the Old Monastery. He dedicated it to the Holy Trinity, but later it became known as the Sacred Monastery of Saint Dionysios of Olympus.
Saint Dionysios lived an ascetic life in a cave under a rock, which is about a 20 minute walk from the Old Monastery. The place was named “Agios Spilaios” and is still preserved today, while it attracts thousands of visitors every year. The chapel next to the cell of the Saint is dedicated to the Nativity of the Theotokos and celebrates on September 8th. At the location is also a spring of holy water which gushes from the mountain.
From the location of Prionia, which we reach by car, we descend the E4 path towards Litochoro. Before the Old Monastery of Saint Dionysios, we come across the characteristic clearings and a small hut. We turn right, and the path leads us in a few minutes to the Enipeas waterfall.
Returning to the E4, we cross the Enipeas via a wooden bridge and continue our journey for 20 minutes towards Agios Spilaios. From there we return to the Old Monastery where we can visit the katholikon, as well as the surrounding areas of the monastery.
The return from the Monastery can be done either by the same path, to Prionia and from there to Litochoro, or by car, to Litochoro.
