Stavroproskinisi (Crucifixion of the cross)

The imposing stone pillars of Meteora, crowned with their centuries-old monasteries, offer a truly spiritual setting for celebrating Easter and the message of Christianity. Visitors are captivated not only by the breathtaking landscape but also by the distinctive liturgical customs and traditions observed in each monastery of Meteora.

In the wider Kalampaka area, during Holy Week, a unique local tradition known as the “Crucifixion of the Cross” takes place. On the third Sunday of Lent, known as the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, a solemn procession is held inside the church. After the Great Doxology during Orthros, the Cross is carried to the center of the temple, where it remains throughout the week for veneration by the faithful.

Local women also take part in a moving ritual: they climb the rock known as “Little Agia”, singing traditional Easter hymns, before descending to Agios Antonios, a small chapel at the base of the rock. There, they form a circle dance, continuing their joyful songs until the bell of the Great Church — the Historic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary — rings for Vespers, marking the spiritual rhythm of Easter in Kalampaka.