By Nikolas Bardis

East of the historic town of Tsaritsani, at an altitude of 800 meters, on a steep slope with wild vegetation, is built the Holy Monastery of Agios Dimitriosalso known as “Valetsiko”. The exact date of establishment of the Monastery is not known to us. However, in the great trial for the encroachments of the monastery lands in 1875, it is referred to as “an ancient monastery with a thousand-year presence”.

The recorded history of the region begins with the conquest of Thessaly by the Serbian king Stefanos Dusan in 1348, where he appoints Simeon Uresis as despot of Thessaly. Simeon, after the miracle to his young son Ioannis, later monk Ioasaf, around 1370, thanks to the miraculous icon of Saint Demetrius, built the Catholic Church of the Monastery, which is preserved to this day. Since then the Monastery took the name “Valetsiko” which in Slavic means “little child”.

So, he gave the Monastery many farms, which were cultivated by the monks and workers of the Monastery, mainly with grain, vines, fruit trees, olive trees, but they also had pastures for livestock. The Monastery even had apiaries, as evidenced by the name of the location “Melissomandri”. The income of the Monastery was used, apart from the maintenance of the monks and the employees of the Monastery, for the salaries of the teachers, but also for the maintenance of the schools of neighboring Tsaritsani.

In 1435, when the region was conquered by the Ottomans, the Sultan had the Monastery under his protection, making it a Vakufi and appointed the Spachides for its protection, in exchange for paying a tax of 1/10 of its income. The Monastery of Agios Dimitrios was not only a core of spiritual cultivation and strengthening of the Orthodox faith during the difficult years of slavery, but also due to its strategic position (near Mount Olympus) it was a center of supply and information, as well as a base and refuge of the fighters for the freedom of the enslaved people. The monastery experienced great prosperity during the 17th and 18th centuries, with great ecclesiastical figures and intellectuals.

In the years that followed, the Monastery was looted, historical relics were stolen and the land it possessed was encroached upon. The renovation and manning of the Monastery by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Elassonos Mr. Charitonas in 2015, gave the monastery its current form, and welcomes crowds of believers from Greece and abroad, who go there to pray to the Saint and receive his blessing.

The miraculous icon of Saint Demetrius has been painted and bears all the characteristics of Byzantine art. The date and the name of the hagiographer are not preserved, however her technique is quite reminiscent of the 14th century. Today, a fragment of the Holy Relic of Saint Demetrius is kept in the Holy Monastery, which is placed on top of the miraculous icon of the Saint, as well as a fragment of Saint Barbara in her Chapel. If you find yourself in the area, it is worth visiting this historic monastery and worshiping the Saint, who over the years has protected all people with his presence and love. The energy of the place is unique, while the natural landscape will enchant you.