Holy Monastery of Rousanou

Roussanou Nunnery, dedicated to Saint Barbara, is one of the most distinctive monasteries of Meteora. Built atop a steep rock, between Kastraki and the other monasteries, it impresses not only with its dramatic location but also with its unique character as a women’s monastery devoted to service and hospitality.

The origin of the nunnery’s name is likely linked to the first hermit who settled on the rock or the founder of the original church. Although the rock was inhabited from the 16th century, the monastery’s roots go back to the 14th century, while its current form was shaped in the 16th century thanks to the brothers Joasaph and Maximus from Epirus. With the approval of Bishop Vissarion of Larissa and the abbot of Great Meteoron Monastery, they restored the ruined church and dedicated it to the Transfiguration of Christ.

The katholikon, built in 1545 and decorated with frescoes in 1560, is dedicated both to the Transfiguration and the memory of Saint Barbara. Over the centuries, Roussanou served as a refuge for persecuted people and families during turbulent times. In the 19th century, the monastery declined and gradually became a retreat for the monks of Varlaam Monastery. Today, after restoration by the Archaeological Service in 1980, it operates as a nunnery.

Access to Roussanou Nunnery is now easy thanks to two solid bridges constructed in 1930, replacing the old wooden bridge from 1868. The building complex covers the entire plateau at the top of the rock, with the katholikon and cells on the ground floor and reception areas, additional cells, and auxiliary rooms on the upper floors. The frescoes of the katholikon, which belong to the height of the Cretan School, are considered among the finest and most mature works of their era.

Roussanou Nunnery offers visitors a special sense of tranquility, combining spirituality with the enchanting views of Meteora.