Pop singer Madonna visited the Varlaam Monastery at Meteora in Greece on Friday, August 14, to speak with its abbot and seek spiritual advice.
The visit took place shortly before her 68th birthday on Sunday, August 16. Madonna arrived at Meteora by helicopter from Corfu, where she was on vacation, traveling with her son and a group of about 12 companions.
The group arrived in two helicopters. Ground transport from the landing pad to the monastery was provided by the agency Visit Meteora, and tour guides Patricia Mania and Dominiki Kalafati escorted Madonna during the visit.
Madonna stayed at Meteora for approximately three hours, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monks opened the Varlaam Monastery specifically for her, as the site had already closed to the public for the day.
Meeting with the Abbot
Dressed in white, the singer was friendly with locals while maintaining a low profile. She told monks at the site that she was seeking a spiritual experience.
During the visit, Madonna met with Father Benediktos, the abbot of Varlaam Monastery. A monk described their private meeting as having a personal and spiritual character.
Father Benediktos is 49 years old and was elected abbot in February 2022. According to the monk, Madonna showed strong interest in spirituality, asked the abbot for spiritual guidance, and asked about the prayer rope he was holding.
After her three-hour stay at Meteora, Madonna returned by helicopter to Corfu to continue her holiday in Greece.
History of Varlaam Monastery
Varlaam Monastery, also known as the Monastery of All Saints, sits on a steep rock at the northwestern edge of Meteora. It is located near the Great Meteoron and Rousanou monasteries.
The monastery is named after the anchorite Varlaam, who first lived on the rock during the 14th century. Today, seven monks reside at the complex.
The organized community dates to the early 16th century, when the hieromonks Nektarios and Theofanis of the Apsarades family from Ioannina settled on the rock. In the 18th century, a monk named Christoforos cataloged the monastery archive and transcribed historic manuscripts.
