Monastery of Agia Triada

At a picturesque location west of the village of Giannota, on the northwest of Elassona, is the historic Monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity), the most important monument and a landmark for this area.

We do not know when exactly it was founded, even though tradition dates its history to the Byzantine period. The complex that survives today dates from the beginning of the 19th century, but it is certain that its foundation had taken place earlier. It was a stauropegic monastery and had a large property, at least until the beginning of the 20th century, as indicated by the large number of cells it had, which today are in ruins. It suffered from raids and destructions, mainly by Turco-Albanians, with more important the destruction from a fire in 1866. During the Turkish occupation it had significant contribution to the life of the area and according to tradition it hosted a secret, underground school. Its history was related to the action of Nikotsaras, one of the most important fighters in the area of Olympus , and as a matter of fact it is said that he had been educated here.

Nowadays, from the complex survives the catholicon, which is in a good condition. According to the stone inscription that exists in the monument, the church was built in 1843, but it was at the location of an older one. Architecturally, it belongs to the variation of the single-aisled, cross-in-square church, but its roof is covered by schist slabs. At its interior it is decorated with wall paintings of folklore style, according to an inscription that survives over the entrance, were made in 1867 by the brothers Symeon and Ioannis from Samarina. Remarkable in the interior of the church is the wooden-carved screen.

The church celebrates on the Monday of the Holy Spirit.