Crossing Heaven and Earth: Pilgrimage to Mountain Monasteries of Meteora as a Sacred Act
Abstract (300 words maximum)
In northwestern Greece lies a sandstone formation of pillars climbing 1300 feet above the plain below. These massive stone columns were named Meteora, meaning lofty or elevated, signifying how their sheer cliffsides made access very difficult and dangerous. Despite this topographic challenge, the peaks of these pillars have been home for a community of Eastern Orthodox monasteries since the 9th century. Beginning as a refuge to hermit monks, the political upheavals in the 13th century led them to construct monasteries for shelter from Turkish attacks upon Greece. As a defense strategy, the only access points were removable ladders, hoisting ropes, or nets. These political threats have since disappeared, and yet monks have continued to keep the monasteries practically inaccessible. Why have they chosen such an isolated and perilous location to make their sacred dwelling? This paper explores the relationship between ascetic practices, extreme rituals, and spatial configurations to argue that architecture is not merely a background for religious practices, but what renders certain experiences possible. Monastic architecture does not provide solely a dwelling but can provide an environment for spiritual practices and define sacred space. This research draws on the distinctions between sacred and profane space as developed by Mircea Eliade and further explored by scholars such as Shelley Ashdown, who states that sacred space is not exclusive but an ephemeral paradox. To illustrate how the sacred is constructed, this research also engages themes of liminality and spirituality through the works of Victor Turner and Thomas Barrie. By examining the monasteries through the lens of these scholarly works, this paper shows how the journey to access the monasteries of the Meteora mountains can blur the boundaries between profane and sacred space and evoke a liminal state.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CACM – Architecture
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Ehsan Sheikholharam
Crossing Heaven and Earth: Pilgrimage to Mountain Monasteries of Meteora as a Sacred Act
In northwestern Greece lies a sandstone formation of pillars climbing 1300 feet above the plain below. These massive stone columns were named Meteora, meaning lofty or elevated, signifying how their sheer cliffsides made access very difficult and dangerous. Despite this topographic challenge, the peaks of these pillars have been home for a community of Eastern Orthodox monasteries since the 9th century. Beginning as a refuge to hermit monks, the political upheavals in the 13th century led them to construct monasteries for shelter from Turkish attacks upon Greece. As a defense strategy, the only access points were removable ladders, hoisting ropes, or nets. These political threats have since disappeared, and yet monks have continued to keep the monasteries practically inaccessible. Why have they chosen such an isolated and perilous location to make their sacred dwelling? This paper explores the relationship between ascetic practices, extreme rituals, and spatial configurations to argue that architecture is not merely a background for religious practices, but what renders certain experiences possible. Monastic architecture does not provide solely a dwelling but can provide an environment for spiritual practices and define sacred space. This research draws on the distinctions between sacred and profane space as developed by Mircea Eliade and further explored by scholars such as Shelley Ashdown, who states that sacred space is not exclusive but an ephemeral paradox. To illustrate how the sacred is constructed, this research also engages themes of liminality and spirituality through the works of Victor Turner and Thomas Barrie. By examining the monasteries through the lens of these scholarly works, this paper shows how the journey to access the monasteries of the Meteora mountains can blur the boundaries between profane and sacred space and evoke a liminal state.