Monastery of Rousanou, Kalampaka, Greece
Founded in the 16th century, the easily-accessible Rousannou Monastery occupies a lower rock than the others of the Meteora. Rousannou (Ρουσανου) Monastery was founded around 1545 by Maximos and Ioasaph of Ioannina. The reason for the monastery’s name is not known – it is actually dedicated to St. Barbara – but may reflect the name of a hermit who occupied the rock.
It soon declined and became subject to Varlaam Monastery by 1614. The monastery once again fell into disrepair for the two centuries prior to the 1940s, when it was damaged in World War II then plundered by the Germans. It was later repaired by the regional archaeological service and since 1988 it has been occupied by a small community of 13 nuns.
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