The Meteora Monasteries in central Greece have a rich history and a profound spiritual purpose. The word “Meteora” means “suspended in the air” or “in the heavens,” and the name aptly describes the monasteries’ dramatic and seemingly gravity-defying location atop massive rock pillars. The history of the Meteora Monasteries dates back to the 14th century when the first monastic communities were established in this rugged and remote region. The exact reasons for choosing such an inaccessible locat