Σύντομο Ἱστορικὸ Ἱερᾶς Μονῆς Παναγίας Ἐλεούσης Κλεισούρας Μεσολογγίου

Ἡ Ἱερὰ Μονὴ Παναγίας Ἐλεούσης Κλεισούρας Μεσολογγίου, βρίσκεται στὸ 20ο χιλιόμετρο τῆς ἐθνικῆς ὁδοῦ Μεσολογγίου – Ἀγρινίου, εἶναι κτισμένη στὴ βόρεια πλευρὰ τοῦ φαραγγιοῦ, τοῦ βουνοῦ Ἀράκυνθος ἢ Ζυγὸς καὶ χρονολογεῖται ἀπὸ τοὺς βυζαντινοὺς χρόνους. Ὅπως εἶναι σκαλισμένη, ἀνάμεσα στοὺς θεόρατους βράχους μὲ τὴν ἄγρια μεγαλοπρέπεια, θυμίζει μετεωρίτικο μοναστήρι, ὅπως παραστέκει, ὡς φρουρός ἄγρυπνος στὸν πόνο, στὴν ἀγωνία καὶ στὸ μόχθο τοῦ ὁδοιπόρου ποὺ διασχίζει τὸ φαράγγι.

Ἀποτελεῖται ἀπὸ τὰ κελιὰ (παραπλεύρως τῆς ἐθνικής ὁδοῦ), τὸ παρεκκλήσιο τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ καὶ τὸν Ἱερὸ Ναὸ τῆς Ζωοδόχου Πηγῆς “Παναγία Ἐλεοῦσα”, ὅπου καὶ ἡ θαυματουργὴ εἰκόνα τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου, ὁ ὁποίος βρίσκεται σὲ κόγχη τοῦ βράχου σὲ ὑψόμετρο 150 μ. Στὸ μέσον τῆς διαδρομῆς, ἡ ὁποία ὁδηγεῖ στὸν Ἱερὸ Ναό, βρίσκεται ὁ μεγαλοπρεπὴς λευκὸς Σταυρὸς ὕψους 16 μ.

Συνδεδεμένη μὲ ἱστορικὰ πρόσωπα καὶ γεγονότα τῆς νεότερης ἱστορίας, ἀποτελοῦσε ἀνέκαθεν σπουδαῖο προσκυνηματικὸ κέντρο καὶ σημεῖο ἀναφορᾶς τῆς θρησκευτικῆς ζωῆς τοῦ τόπου.

Ἡ προφορικὴ παράδοση ἀναφέρει, ὅτι στὸ παλαιὸ χωριὸ Χρυσοβέργι, στὸ σημεῖο ὅπου σήμερα βρίσκεται τὸ ἐκκλησάκι τῆς Ἁγίας Παρασκευῆς (σὲ ἀπόσταση 1,5 χλμ ΒΔ τῆς Μονῆς), περὶ τὸ ἔτος 1700, τὴν ὥρα τῆς Ἀνάστασης, κάποιος Τοῦρκος μέλος στρατιωτικοῦ ἀποσπάσματος, χλεύασε τοὺς χριστιανούς, μὲ ἀποτέλεσμα ἕνας Ἕλληνας ὀνόματι Κουμπούρας παρεξηγήθηκε, συνεπλάκη μαζί του καὶ τὸν σκότωσε. Οἱ ὑπόλοιποι φοβήθηκαν καὶ ἔφυγαν, κάποιοι συγχωριανοί του κατέβασαν τὸν Κουμπούρα μὲ σχοινιὰ σὲ κοντινὸ σπήλαιο, πιὸ πάνω ἀπὸ τὸ σημερινὸ μοναστήρι, γιὰ νὰ κρυφτεῖ καὶ νὰ σωθεῖ ἀπὸ τὴν ὀργὴ τοῦ κατακτητῆ. Ἕνα χρόνο ἔμεινε ἐκεῖ κρυμμένος, τρεφόμενος ἀπὸ τοὺς χωριανούς, ποὺ τού ἔδιναν τὰ ἀπαραίτητα, μέσα σὲ αἰωρούμενο καλάθι. Ὅταν τὸ γεγονὸς λησμονήθηκε ὁ Κουμπούρας μὲ τὴν βοήθεια σχοινιῶν ἐπανῆλθε καὶ τότε διηγήθηκε ὅτι στὸ σημεῖο ὅπου σήμερα εἶναι χτισμένος ὁ ναὸς ἔβλεπε κάθε βράδυ ἕνα ζωηρὸ φῶς. Ὅταν οἱ χωριανοὶ μὲ χίλιες δυσκολίες ἔφθασαν στὸ σημεῖο ποὺ τοὺς ὑπέδειξε ἔκθαμβοι ἀντίκρισαν τὴν εἰκόνα τῆς Παναγιᾶς καὶ δίπλα πηγὴ μὲ νερό (ἁγίασμα). Στὸ σημεῖο ἐκεῖνο ἀνήγειραν ἀπὸ εὐλάβεια τὸ πρῶτο ἐκκλησάκι.

Κατὰ τὴν παράδοση πάλι, σ᾿ αὐτό φιλοξενήθηκε καὶ ὁ ἐθναπόστολος Ἅγιος Κοσμᾶς ὁ Αἰτωλός, σὲ μία ἀπὸ τὶς περιοδείες του. Ἐδώ, εἶπε στοὺς χριστιανούς, μίαν ἡμέρα θὰ γίνει ἕνα μεγάλο προσκύνημα. Σὲ ἀνάμνηση τῆς φιλοξενίας τοῦ Ἁγίου Κοσμᾶ τοῦ Αἰτωλοῦ στὴ Μονή, ὁ μακαριστὸς μητροπολίτης Αἰτωλίας καὶ Ἀκαρνανίας Θεόκλητος (†2007) πρωτοστάτησε στὸ στήσιμο ἀνδριάντα του στὴν εἴσοδο τῆς Μονῆς.

Μετὰ τὴν πρώτη πολιορκία τοῦ Μεσολογγίου (25 Ὀκτωβρίου - 31 Δεκεμβρίου 1822) ἀπὸ τοὺς Τούρκους, στὴν Ἁγία Ἐλεοῦσα βρῆκε καταφύγιο ὁ Γιάννης Γούναρης, ὁ ὁποῖος λόγῳ τῆς σκοπευτικῆς δεινότητας, ὑπηρετοῦσε τὸν Ὀμέρ Βρυώνη ὡς κυνηγός, ἐνῶ τὴν οἰκογένεια του τὴν κρατοῦσε σὲ ὁμηρεία ὁ πασᾶς στὴν Ἄρτα. Τὸ πραγματικό του ὄνομα ἦταν Κώστας Ζούκας καὶ καταγόταν ἀπὸ τὰ Γιάννενα. Ἡ γενναία καὶ ἀγαθὴ αὐτὴ ψυχή, λόγῳ τῆς ἰδιότητάς του πληροφορήθηκε ὅτι ὁ Ὀμέρ Βρυώνης καὶ ὁ Κιουταχὴς σχεδίαζαν αἰφνιδιαστικὴ ἐπίθεση κατὰ τοῦ ἡρωικοῦ Μεσολογγίου τὴ νύχτα 24/25 Δεκεμβρίου τοῦ 1822, ὅταν οἱ χριστιανοὶ θὰ κατέκλυζαν τὶς ἐκκλησιὲς γιὰ τὴν Χριστουγεννιάτικη Θεία Λειτουργία. Ὁ ἴδιος ἐπέλεξε νὰ ἀποκαλύψει τὰ δόλια σχέδια τῶν Τούρκων στοὺς Ἕλληνες, ἀψηφῶντας τὴν τύχη τῆς οἰκογένειάς του. Μετὰ τὸ γεγονὸς αὐτὸ οἱ κάτοικοι τοῦ Μεσολογγίου σώθηκαν, ἀλλὰ σφαγιάστηκαν ὅλα τὰ μέλη τῆς οἰκογένειας τοῦ Γούναρη ἀπὸ τὸν Ὀμέρ Βρυώνη, ἐνῶ ὁ ἴδιος γιὰ νὰ ξεφύγει ἀπὸ τὴν μανία του, βρῆκε καταφύγιο στὸ μικρὸ σπήλαιο στὴν Κλεισούρα, τρεφόμενος ἀπὸ τοὺς βοσκοὺς καὶ κατοίκους τῆς περιοχῆς. Μετὰ τὴν ἀπελευθέρωση τῆς πατρίδος μας ἔγινε καλόγερος, μὲ τὸν ἀβάσταχτο πόνο τῆς ἀπώλειας τῶν δικῶν του νὰ τὸν συντροφεύει διαρκῶς. Ὅταν τὸ 1837, διερχόμενος ὁ βασιλιάς Ὄθων μὲ τὴν Ἀμαλία καὶ τὴ συνοδεία τους ἀπὸ τὴ Μονή, οἱ καπεταναῖοι ποὺ συνόδευαν τὸν Ὄθωνα τοῦ ἐξιστόρησαν τὰ γεγονότα τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ καλόγερου τῆς Κλεισούρας. Ὁ Ὄθωνας συγκινήθηκε ἀπὸ τὸν τραγικὸ ἐπίλογο καὶ θέλησε νὰ τόν ἀνταμείψει. Ὁ Γιάννης Γούναρης τὸ μόνο ποὺ ζήτησε ἀπὸ τὸν Ὄθωνα, ἀντὶ γιὰ ἄλλη χάρη, ἦταν νὰ παραχωρήσει τὸ κράτος τὴν περιοχὴ ἀπὸ τὴν εἴσοδο μέχρι τὴν ἔξοδο τῆς Κλεισούρας στὸ μοναστήρι, ὅπως καὶ ἔγινε. Ὁ Γούναρης ἄφησε ἐδῶ τὴν τελευταία του πνοή (περὶ τὸ 1840), ἐνῶ τὰ ὀστᾶ του εὑρέθησαν στὰ θεμέλια τοῦ Ναοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἀνακαίνιση τοῦ 1997 καὶ τοποθετήθηκαν στὴ βάση τῆς προτομῆς του. Κάθε χρόνο ἡ Συνομοσπονδία Κυνηγῶν Ἑλλάδος τιμᾶ αὐτόν τὸν ἀγωνιστὴ κατὰ τὴν τρίτη Κυριακὴ τοῦ Ἰουνίου.

Ἀπ᾿ τὴν Ἐλεοῦσα ἐμπνεύσθηκε ὁ ποιητὴς Κωνσταντῖνος Κρυστάλλης καὶ συνέθεσε τὸ ποίημα μὲ τίτλο «Ὁ καλόγερος τῆς Κλεισούρας».

Τὸ 1870 ἕνας ἄλλος καλόγερος ἔζησε στὴν Ἱερὰ Μονὴ Ἁγίας Ἐλεούσης, ὁ Πανάρετος Παλαμᾶς - προερχόμενος ἀπὸ τὴν γνωστὴ Μεσολογγίτικη οἰκογένεια – μία μορφὴ ἐπιβλητική, δυναμικὴ καὶ δραστήρια. Εἶναι ὁ κτήτορας τοῦ πρώτου ξενῶνος (1878), στὸν ὁποῖο ἔβρισκαν φιλοξενία πολλοὶ ἐπώνυμοι ἀλλὰ καὶ ἁπλοὶ διαβάτες ἢ προσκυνητές, κατασκεύασε τὴν σκάλα πρὸς τὸν Ἱερὸ Ναὸ καὶ ἀπαγόρευσε τὴ βοσκὴ στοὺς χώρους τῆς Μονῆς. Ἐκείνη τὴν περίοδο πέρασε καὶ προσκύνησε τὴν εἰκόνα τῆς Παναγιᾶς ὁ βασιλέας Γεώργιος ὁ Α΄. Ἐπίσης ὁ μοναχὸς Πανάρετος ὑποδέχθηκε στὸ μοναστήρι τὸν Χαρίλαο Τρικούπη, ὁ ὁποῖος χρηματοδότησε τὴν κατασκευὴ τῆς στέρνας, ὅπου συγκεντρώνονταν τὸ βρόχινο νερὸ καὶ λειτουργοῦσε μέχρι τὸ 1990. Μετὰ ἀπὸ καιρό, ὁ καλόγερος Πανάρετος Παλαμᾶς συνέχισε τὴν ἐξωραϊστική του προσπάθεια στὴν Ἱερὰ Μονὴ τῆς Ἁγίας Ἀγάθης (7 χλμ ἀνατολικὰ τῆς Σταμνᾶς), ὅπου πέθανε στὶς 22 Αὐγούστου 1891 σὲ ἡλικία 57 ἐτῶν καὶ ἐνταφιάστηκε στὸν περίβολό της.

Τὸ 1900 ἔρχεται στὴν Ἁγία Ἐλεοῦσα ὁ μοναχὸς Ἀλέξιος ἀπὸ τὰ Ἰωάννινα, ὁ ὁποῖος χτίζει ναΰδριο ἀφιερωμένο στὴν Παναγία καὶ παραπλεύρως μικρὸ κελί, ὅπου διέμεινε. Χαμηλότερα ἀπὸ ἐκεῖνο τὸ ἐκκλησάκι ὑπῆρχε δεξαμενὴ ὅπου συγκεντρώνονταν τὸ βρόχινο νερό. Στὸ χῶρο αὐτὸ ἀνηγέρθη τὸ 1997 τὸ παρεκκλήσιο τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ. Τὸ μόνο ποὺ ἔχει ἀπομείνει εἶναι κάποια σημάδια στὸ βράχο, ἀπὸ ἐκεῖνο τὸ μικρὸ κελὶ τοῦ Ἀλεξίου. Ὁ μοναχὸς Ἀλέξιος θεωρεῖται, μετά τὸν Πανάρετο Παλαμᾶ, ὁ δεύτερος κτήτορας τῆς Μονῆς.

Ἀπὸ τὸ 1950 μέχρι τὸ 1953, μονάζει στὴν Ἱερὰ Μονὴ ὁ Ἱερομόναχος Ἀγάπιος ἀπὸ τὸ Ἄνω Κεράσοβο.

Τὸ 1954 ἦρθε στὴ Μονὴ ὁ Ἱερομόναχος π. Ἱερόθεος Σπανομῆτσος ἀπὸ τὸ χωριὸ Λημέρι τῆς Εὐρυτανίας, ὁ ὁποῖος ἡγουμένευσε στὴν Ἱερὰ Μονὴ Ἁγίας Ἐλεούσης γιὰ 64 χρόνια. Πρὶν τὴ χειροτονία του ἦταν τελωνειακὸς ὑπάλληλος. Τὸ 1956, ἡ τότε βασίλισσα Φρειδερίκη ἦρθε καὶ προσκύνησε στὴν Παναγία Ἐλεοῦσα καὶ ἐνήργησε νὰ γίνει ἡ ἄρση τοῦ ἐνοικιοστασίου βοσκῆς αἰγοπροβάτων καὶ τὴν προώθηση τῆς ἀναδάσωσης. Τὸ 1973 κατόπιν ἐνεργειῶν τοῦ π. Ἱεροθέου ἀνακηρύχθηκε ὅλη ἡ περιοχὴ τῆς Κλεισούρας προστατευόμενη, ἱστορική, μὲ φυσικὸ κάλλος, φρόντισε γιὰ τὴν φύτευση δένδρων, τὴν ἠλεκτροδότηση καὶ τὴν ὕδρευση τῆς Μονῆς, πρωτοστάτησε στὴ δημιουργία τηλεφωνικοῦ κέντρου στὴ Μονὴ γιὰ τὴν ἐξυπηρέτηση τῶν προσκυνητῶν καὶ διερχομένων, ὀργάνωσε τὸ ἀρχεῖο τῆς Μονῆς καὶ προσέφερε σημαντικὸ πνευματικὸ καὶ ποιμαντικὸ ἔργο. Ἐκοιμήθη στὶς 18 Δεκεμβρίου 2018 καὶ ἐτάφη στὸν περίβολο τῆς Μονῆς παραπλεύρως τοῦ μακαριστοῦ Ἐπισκόπου Θεοκλήτου.

Ἀπὸ τὸν Ὀκτώβριο τοῦ 2019 ἡ Μητρόπολις Αἰτωλίας καὶ Ἀκαρνανίας ἀνέθεσε τὴ διοίκηση της Μονῆς σὲ Διαχειριστικὴ Ἐπιτροπή, ἡ ὁποία φροντίζει γιὰ τὸν ἐξωραϊσμὸ τῶν ἐγκαταστάσεων ἀλλὰ καὶ γιὰ τὴν λατρευτική – μυστηριακὴ ζωὴ τῆς Μονῆς.

Γεωφυσικὰ χαρακτηριστικά

Τὸ φαράγγι τῆς Κλεισούρας τέμνει ἐγκάρσια τὸ βουνὸ Ἀράκυνθος ἢ Ζυγός, ἔχει μῆκος 3 χλμ. πλαισιώνεται απὸ κάθετα βράχια μὲ τὸ μεγαλύτερο ὑψόμετρο στὰ 462 μ. στὴ βόρεια πλευρὰ τοῦ φαραγγιοῦ. Εἶναι γέννημα τῆς διαβρωτικῆς ἐνέργειας τοῦ νεροῦ τοῦ Ἀχελώου ποταμοῦ, ὁ ὁποῖος ὕστερα ἀπὸ γεωλογικὲς ἀνακατατάξεις στὴν περιοχή, βρῆκε προσφορότερο πέρασμα πρὸς δυσμὰς καὶ ἄλλαξε ροή, ὅπως τὸν βλέπουμε μέχρι σήμερα. Ἀποτέλεσμα αὐτῶν τῶν ἀνακατατάξεων εἶναι τὸ φαράγγι τῆς Κλεισούρας νὰ παραμείνει μιὰ ξερὴ κοίτη, ἐνῶ δημιουργήθηκαν οἱ λίμνες Τριχωνίδα καὶ Λυσιμαχία.

Τὸ φαράγγι τῆς Κλεισούρας καὶ ὁ Ἀράκυνθος λόγῳ τῆς μεγάλης οἰκολογικῆς σημασίας, ἔχουν ἐνταχθεῖ στὸ δίκτυο προστατευόμενων περιοχῶν Natura 2000.

Στὶς ἀπότομες ὀρθοπλαγιὲς καὶ στοὺς λιθῶνες τοῦ φαραγγιοῦ βρίσκει καταφύγιο διαβίωσης ἕνα ἀπὸ τὰ μεγαλύτερα ἀρπακτικά, τὸ ὄρνιο (Gyps fulvus), φωλιάζουν ἐπίσης καὶ ἄλλα «γκρεμόφιλα» εἴδη, ὅπως ὁ κόρακας, τὸ βραχοχελίδονο, ὁ βραχοτσοπανάκος, ἡ πετροπέρδικα κ.ἄ.

Στὸ παρελθὸν πυκνὸ δάσος ἀπὸ βελανιδιές, πλατάνια, κυπαρίσσια, κουτσουπιές, χαρουπιές, σχῖνες, παλιούρια, ἀσφάκες, ρείκια, ἀγριελιές, πουρνάρια και σπάρτα, κάλυπτε ὁλόκληρο τὸ φαράγγι. Σήμερα τὸ παλιὸ δάσος ἔχει περιοριστεῖ, λόγῳ τῆς ἀνθρώπινης δραστηριότητας (κατασκευὴ δρόμου, ὑλοτομία, ὑπερβόσκηση, ἀμμοληψία), ἐνῶ οἱ ἀναδασώσεις ἑκατέρωθεν τοῦ δρόμου ἔγιναν ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πλεῖστον μὲ δένδρα ξένα πρὸς τὴν χλωρίδα τῆς περιοχῆς. Στὸ φαράγγι ἀνάλογα μὲ τὶς ἐποχές εὐδοκιμοῦν τὰ κυκλάμινα, οἱ ὀρχιδέες, οἱ ἀνεμῶνες, οἱ παπαροῦνες, οἱ ἀγριοτριανταφυλλιὲς κ.ἄ. Αὐτὸ ποὺ ἐντυπωσιάζει περισσότερο τὴν ἄνοιξη εἶναι οἱ ἀποχρώσεις τοῦ ρὸζ ἀπὸ τὰ ἄνθη τῆς κουτσουπιᾶς.

Ἱστορικὰ στοιχεῖα

Κατὰ τὴν περίοδο τῆς τουρκοκρατίας καὶ μεταγενέστερα, σὲ περιόδους ποὺ ἀνθοῦσε ἡ ληστεία, οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἀπέφευγαν νὰ διέρχονται μέσα ἀπὸ τὸ φαράγγι, ἐπειδὴ ὁ συνδυασμὸς τῆς στενωποῦ μὲ τὴν ὀργιώδη βλάστηση καθιστοῦσε τὴ διαδρομὴ ἰδανικὸ μέρος γιὰ ἐνέδρες. Οἱ ἄνθρωποι προτιμοῦσαν παρακαμπτήρια δρομολόγια γιὰ τὴν μετακίνησή τους ἀπὸ τὸ Μεσολόγγι πρὸς τὸ Βραχῶρι (σημερινὸ Ἀγρίνιο) καὶ ἀντίστροφα, εἴτε ἀπὸ Ἑλληνικά – Κεράσοβο – γεφύρια τοῦ Ἀλάμπεη, εἴτε ἀπὸ Ἀγγελόκαστρο ἢ ἀπὸ Λυσιμαχεία. Ἴσως γιὰ τὸν λόγο αὐτό, γιὰ νὰ ἑποπτεύει καὶ νὰ ἀσφαλίζει δηλαδὴ τὸ ἐπικίνδυνο πέρασμα, κατασκευάστηκε (18ος αι.) στὴ βόρεια εἴσοδο τῆς Κλεισούρας καὶ σὲ χαμηλὸ ὕψωμα κοντὰ στὰ Φραγκουλαίικα ὁ πύργος ἢ πυργοκατοικία, ἐρείπια τοῦ ὁποίου σώζονται μέχρι σήμερα.

Απὸ τὸν Αὔγουστο τοῦ 1962 μέχρι τὸν Μάρτιο τοῦ 1963, διεξήχθησαν ἔρευνες στὸ φαράγγι γιὰ τὴν ὕπαρξη πετρελαίου ἀπὸ τὴν «Αἰτωλικὴ Ἐταιρεία Πετρελαίων», στὴν ὁποία συμμετεῖχαν ἡ «ΒΡ» καὶ ἡ «Ἐθνικὴ Τράπεζα». Ἡ γεώτρηση ἔφτασε σὲ βάθος 3.980 μ. ὅπου διαπιστώθηκε πράγματι ἡ ὕπαρξη πετρελαίου καὶ ἀερίων, ἀλλὰ κρίθηκε ἀσύμφορη ἡ ἐξόρυξη. Σήμερα στὴ θέση τῆς γεώτρησης ὑπάρχει μεγάλο κοίλωμα στὰ νότια τοῦ δρόμου.

Στὰ μέσα τοῦ 19ου αἰώνα ἄρχισε νὰ χρησιμοποιεῖται ἡ Κλεισούρα ὡς δρομολόγιο μετακίνησης – μεταφορᾶς ἐμπορευμάτων καὶ ἀρχικὰ ὁ δρόμος ἦταν ἑλικοειδής. Ἀπὸ ἐκεῖνον τὸν ἑλικοειδὴ δρόμο, ὁ ὁποῖος ἀργότερα ἀσφαλτοστρώθηκε, ἔχουν ἀπομείνει ἐλάχιστα τμήματα. Σήμερα διέρχεται ἡ ἐθνικὴ ὁδὸς Μεσολογγίου – Ἀγρινίου, ἡ ὁποία μέχρι τὴν κατασκευὴ τῆς Ἰονίας Ὁδοῦ τὸ 2017 ἀποτελοῦσε τὸ κύριο δρομολόγιο ἀπὸ καὶ πρὸς Ἤπειρο, Κέρκυρα, Λευκάδα κ.λ.π.

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Ἐπικοινωνία: Ἱερὰ Μονὴ Παναγίας Ἐλεούσης, 20ο χλμ Ε.Ο. Μεσολογγίου – Αγρινίου, ΤΚ: 30400.

Τηλ. 26320-22386. e-mail: imagiaeleousa@gmail.com

Ἡμέρες Πανηγύρεων – Ἑορτῶν : Ζωοδόχου Πηγῆς (Παρασκευὴ τῆς Διακαινησίμου), Ὕψωση τοῦ Τιμίου Σταυροῦ († 14 Σεπτεμβρίου), Τρίτη Κυριακὴ Ἰουνίου (μνημόσυνο τοῦ Γιάννη Γούναρη).

Καλό προσκύνημα! Ἡ Ὑπεραγία Θεοτόκος νὰ σᾶς σκεπάζει καὶ νὰ σᾶς φρουρεῖ!

Brief History of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Eleoussa Kleisoura Messolonghi

The Holy Monastery of Panagia Eleoussa Kleisoura Messolonghi is located 20 km of the National Road Messolonghi – Agrinio. It is built on the north side of the gorge, the mountain Arakynthos or Zygos and dates back to Byzantine times. As it is carved, between the majestic rocks with wild majesty, it reminds one of the meteoric monasteries, as it stands, as a guard awake to the pain, agony and toil of the traveler that crosses the gorge.

It consists of the cells (next to the national road), the chapel of the Holy Cross and the Holy Temple of the Life-Giving Spring (Zoodochos Pigi) "Panagia Eleousa", also the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is located in a niche of the rock at an altitude of 150 m. In the middle of the path, which leads to the Holy Temple, is the majestic white Cross of 16m hight.

Being connected with historical figures and events of modern history, it has always been an important pilgrimage center and reference point of the religious life of the region.

The oral tradition states that in the old village of Chrysovergi, (at the place where today is the church of Agia Paraskevi, at a distance of 1.5 km NW of the Monastery), around the year 1700, at the time of the Resurrection, a member of Turkish army mocked the Christians, as a result, a Greek named Koumbouras offended of this, got involved with him and killed him. The other Christians got scared and left. Some of his fellow villagers lowered Koumbouras by rope to a nearby cave, located above the current monastery, so as to hide and save him from the wrath of the conqueror. He stayed there hidden for a year, was fed by the villagers, who provided him with the necessities through a basket. When the event was forgotten, Koumbouras returned with the help of ropes and then narrated that at the place where the temple is built today, he saw a vivid light every night. When the villagers, with many difficulties, reached the place indicated to them by dazzle, they discovered an icon of the Virgin Mary and next to the icon, a spring with water (holy water). At that point, the first small church was erected out of reverence.

According to tradition, Saint Cosmas of Aitolia (equal to the Apostles) stayed there during his tours. Here, he told the Christians, one day there will be a great pilgrimage.

In memory of the hospitality in the Monastery, Saint Cosmas of A e tolia (equal to the Apostles), the blessed Metropolitan of Aetolia and Acarnania Theo c l e tos (†2007) pioneered the erection of a statue at the entrance of the Monastery.

After the first siege of Messolonghi (October 25 - December 31, 1822) by the Turks, in Agia Eleousa, Giannis Gounaris found refuge, who due to his shooting ability, served Omer Vryonis as a hunter, while his family was kept "hostage" by the pasha in Arta. His real name was Kostas Zoukas and he came from Ioannina. Due to his brave and good soul, he was informed that Omer Vryonis and Kioutachis were planning a surprise attack against the heroic Messolonghi on the night of December 24/25, 1822, when all the Christians were going be present in the churches for the Christmas Divine Liturgy. He chose to reveal the deceitful plans of the Turks to the Greeks, risking the fate of his family. With his aid, the inhabitants of Messolonghi were saved, but all the members of Gounari's family were slaughtered by Omer Vryonis, while he, in order to escape his rage, found refuge in the small cave in Kleisoura, fed by shepherds and the local inhabitants. After the liberation of our country, he became a monk, with the unbearable pain of losing his family accompanying him constantly. When in 1837, King Otto with Amalia and their entourage were passing by the Monastery, the captains who accompanied Otto told him the events of the life of the monk of Kleisoura. Othon was touched by the tragic ending and wanted to reward him. Giannis Gounaris only asked Othon, was for the state to cede the area from the entrance to the exit of Kleisoura to the Monastery, as it was done. Gounaris left his last breath here (around 1840), while his remains were found in the foundations of the Temple during the renovation of 1997 and were placed at the base of his bust. The Confederation of Hunters of Greece honors this fighter, every year, on the third Sunday of June.

The romantic poet Constantinos Crystallis was inspired by Panagia Eleousa, when he composed the poem "The Monk of Kleisoura".

In 1870, another monk lived in the Holy Monastery of Agia Eleoussi, Panaretos Palamas - from the well-known Mesolonghi family - an imposing, dynamic and active figure. He built the first guest house (1878) which hosted many famous people as well as ordinary or pilgrims. He also built the stairs leading to the Holy Temple and forbade grazing in the monastery grounds. At that time, King George I, passed by and venerated the icon of the Virgin Mary. The monk Panaretos also welcomed Charilaos Trikoupis to the monastery, who financed the construction of the cistern, where rainwater was collected and operated until 1990. Shortly after, the monk Panaretos Palamas continued his landscaping effort at the Holy Monastery of Agia Agathi (7 km east of Stamna), where he died on August 22, 1891 at the age of 57 and was buried in the yard.

In 1900, monk Alexios, from Ioannina, came to Agia Eleousa, who built a nave dedicated to the Virgin Mary and a small cell next to it, where he lived in. Below this church there was a reservoir where rainwater was collected. The chapel of the Holy Cross was erected in this area in 1997. All is left, are some marks on the rock, from that small cell of Alexios. The monk Alexios is considered, after Panaretos Palamas, the second founder of the Monastery.

From 1950 to 1953, the Hieromonk Agapios from Ano Kerasovo lived in the Holy Monastery.

In 1954, the Hieromonk Fr. Hierotheos Spanomitsos came to the Monastery from the village of Limeri in Evritania, who was the abbot of the Holy Monastery of Agia Eleousi for 64 years. Prior to his ordination, he was a customs officer. In 1956, Frederika, then Queen of Greece, visited the monastery, venerated the icon of Panayia Eleousa. She removed the rent freeze of sheep and goat grazing and ordered reforestation. In 1973 the entire region of Kleisoura, which belongs to the monastery, was declared of historical value and its natural beauty is protected by the authorities. Fr. Hierotheos took care of the planting of trees, the electricity and the water supply of the monastery, he led the installation of a call center in the Monastery for the service of pilgrims and passers-by, organized the archive of the Monastery and offered important spiritual and pastoral work. He passed on December 18, 2018, and was buried in the precinct of the Monastery next to the blessed Metropolitan Theocletos.

Since October 2019, the Metropolis of Aetolia and Acarnania assigned the administration of the Monastery to an Administrative Committee, which takes care of the landscaping of the facilities, but also of the worship life of the Monastery.

Geophysical Features

The gorge of Kleisoura crosses the mountain Arakynthos or Zygos, has a length of 3 km, and is framed by vertical rocks with the highest altitude at 462 m. On the north side of the gorge, there is the product of the corrosive energy of the water of the Acheloos river, which after geological rearrangements in the area, found a more suitable passage to the west and changed its flow, as we see it until today. As a result of these rearrangements, the gorge of Kleisoura remains a dry riverbed, where the lakes Trichonida and Lysimachia were created.

The gorge of Kleisoura and Arakynthos, due to their great ecological importance, have been included in the network of Natura 2000 protected areas.

On the steep slopes and boulders of the gorge, one of the largest predators, the vulture (Gyps fulvus), finds shelter, and other "cliff-face" species nest, such as crow, swallow, rock leopard, partridge, etc.

In the past, a dense forest, of oaks, plane trees, cypresses, logs, locusts, spruce, palisades, asparagus, heather, wild olives, holly and sparta, covered the entire gorge. Today the old forest has been limited, due to human activity (road construction, logging, overgrazing, sand extraction), while reforestation on both sides of the road, was mostly done, with trees foreign to the flora of the area. In the gorge, depending on the seasons, cyclamen, orchids, anemones, poppies, wild roses, etc. thrive. What impresses most in spring are the shades of pink, from the flowers of the stump.

Historical Information

During the Turkish occupation and later, during the boom period, people avoided passing through the narrow gorge, because the dense lush vegetation made the route an ideal place for ambushes. People preferred detours for their movement from Messolonghi to Vrachori (today's Agrinio) and vice versa, either from Hellenica - Kerasovo - bridges of Alabei, or from Angelokastro or Lysimacheia. For this reason, it was probably built (18th century) at the northern entrance of Kleisoura, on a low hill near Frangoulaika, the tower of which ruins are preserved to this day, to supervise and secure the dangerous passage.

From August 1962 to March 1963, investigations were conducted in Kleisoura for the existence of oil, by the "Aetolian Oil Company", in which "BP" and the "National Bank" participate. The drilling reached a depth of 3,980 m, where the existence of oil and gas was indeed established, but mining was unprofitable. Today at the drilling site there is a large pit to the south of the road.

In the middle of the 19th century, Kleisoura began to be used as a route for the transportation of goods and initially the road was winding. From that winding road, which was later paved, only a few sections remain. Today crosses the national road Messolonghi - Agrinio, which until the construction of the Ionian Road in 2017, was the main route to and from Epirus, Corfu, Lefkada, etc.

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Contact: Holy Monastery of Panagia Eleoussa, 20th km Messolonghi - Agrinio n Route , 30400, Greece

Tel.: +302632022386, e-mail: imagiaeleousa@gmail.com

Feast Days - Holidays: Virgin Mary Life Spring «Zoodochos Pege» (Friday of Bright Week), Exaltation of the Holy Cross († September 14), Third Sunday in June (memorial service for Giannis Gounaris).

Have a blessed pilgrimage ! May t he most h oly Theotokos protect you through her intercessions!