Those who have been to Meteora at some point, surely were ecstatic to admire the Varlaam Monastery, which is built on the top of a high and steep rock. It is one of the most famous and impressive monasteries of Meteora that carries a history of centuries, while its grace reached Hollywood, but probably for the wrong reasons. It was in 1980, when the monks of Varlaam took on James Bond, preaching their own unyielding and sacred struggle against the production of the film that wanted to “enchant” the space.
The historic Varlaam Monastery
The monastery was built in 1350 by a daring ascetic Varlaam (he later gave it his name), who climbed the steep rock. After his repose, the rock remained deserted for about 200 years, until 1517 when the brother hieromonks Theofanis and Nektarios the Apsarades, who were rich children from Ioannina, climbed. They found the rock of Varlaam completely deserted and built the first buildings from scratch. The transportation of materials is said to have lasted 22 years and the construction only 20 days.
In 1563 the imposing tower of Vrizoni was built, while in 1541 the katholikon of the monastery dedicated to All Saints was built. The oldest of the hagiographies that exist in Varlaam date back to 1548 and their creator is the leading representative of the post-Byzantine school of northwestern Greece, Frango Katelanos.
Until the 16th century the presence of monks was continuous. From the beginning of the 17th century onwards they remained few, when the decline began. In the early years, the ascent was done with wooden stairs that hung with stakes from the rock, creating a gap between them. The monks were forced to jump from one staircase to another at the risk of losing their lives. Over the centuries, the way of ascent has evolved to reach today, where the lifting is done with electricity.
When Varlaam Monastery took on James Bond
Varlaam is the most famous of the rest of Meteora. However, her fame reached all the way to Hollywood, for the wrong reasons. In the autumn of 1980, the legendary James Bond, played by Roger Moore, arrived in Greece to shoot the film “For Your Eyes Only”, part of which took place in the Ionian Sea and in Meteora.
And while there was no problem at the first location, things were difficult for the producers of the Hollywood film when they arrived at the second-most-important center of monasticism in our country, after Mount Athos. According to the script, the evil Christatos finds refuge in Meteora, specifically at the Varlaam Monastery. James Bond pursues him, and all sides prepare for the final showdown against the backdrop of the imposing Meteora.
And despite the fact that the scenes had nothing provocative, the monks of Varlaam reacted strongly, claiming that the film includes scenes of robberies, violence, and sex, brutally insulting the sanctity of Meteora. When they saw that his reactions did not meet with a response and filming began, they moved on to more… drastic measures! Four monks barricaded themselves inside the monastery, barring anyone from entering, while threatening to burn alive anyone who tried to approach, especially Roger Moore, whom they seem to have targeted.
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They then tried to block the footage towards the monastery, hanging tarpaulins, sheets, and flags while spreading their laundry on the side where the shooting was taking place. However, their efforts fell on deaf ears, especially since the residents of Kalambaka, in a large rally, came out in favor of the film’s production, demanding that filming continue normally and threatening the monks that, if they continue their unyielding struggle, they will be forced to occupy the monasteries!
The return of production
One of the exhibits that stands out in Varlaam is a metal cross measuring 1.80 x 0.80 cm, set on a stone. It is said that it was erected on the top of the rock of the Holy Spirit in the 14th century, by order of the Serbian king, Stefan Dušan, in memory of his military victories in Epirus and Thessaly.
Since then, those who tried to take it down have not succeeded, as they lack the technical means. Legend has it that the cross came down from the rock after the shooting of James Bond ended, by the production itself, which wanted to thank the monks who backed off and finally allowed them to shoot. According to the version circulating, they transported the cross from the top by helicopter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Varlaam Monastery is one of the most famous and impressive monasteries of Meteora, built atop a high and steep rock. It is located in Meteora, the second-most-important center of monasticism in Greece after Mount Athos. The monastery was originally built in 1350 by an ascetic named Varlaam, and later reconstructed in 1517 by brother hieromonks Theofanis and Nektarios.
Varlaam Monastery was first built in 1350 by a daring ascetic named Varlaam, who climbed the steep rock. After his death, the rock remained deserted for approximately 200 years until 1517, when brother hieromonks Theofanis and Nektarios the Apsarades, wealthy children from Ioannina, climbed the rock and rebuilt the monastery from scratch.
According to historical records, the transportation of materials to build Varlaam Monastery lasted 22 years, while the actual construction was completed in just 20 days. The imposing tower of Vrizoni was built in 1563, and the monastery's katholikon, dedicated to All Saints, was built in 1541.
In autumn 1980, the film 'For Your Eyes Only' starring Roger Moore was shot partly at Varlaam Monastery. The monks reacted strongly against the filming, claiming the movie included scenes of robberies, violence, and sex that insulted the sanctity of Meteora. Four monks barricaded themselves inside the monastery, threatened to burn anyone who approached, and attempted to block filming by hanging tarpaulins, sheets, and flags.
The monks of Varlaam opposed the James Bond film 'For Your Eyes Only' because they believed it contained provocative scenes including robberies, violence, and sexual content that brutally insulted the sanctity of the Meteora monastery complex. Although the script had nothing overtly provocative, the monks felt the film's themes were incompatible with the religious nature of their sacred space.
In its early years, access to Varlaam Monastery was extremely dangerous, with monks ascending using wooden stairs that hung from stakes on the rock, forcing them to jump between stairs at risk of losing their lives. Over the centuries, the method of ascent evolved significantly. Today, the lifting to the monastery is done with electricity, making access much safer and more practical than in medieval times.
