A reminder that history is not a forgotten book, but a legacy that binds us together – and a responsibility we all share.
The 15th of September 1825 marks a tragic event in the Greek War of Independence, known as the Holocaust of Paliomonastiro. Around 400 people from the village of Vrontamas in Laconia, seeking refuge from the army of Ibrahim Pasha, hid inside the Paliomonastiro, a monastery built within a cave that was a natural fortress. Despite a three-day siege and Ibrahim's offer of surrender, the people of Vrontamas staunchly resisted. Ultimately, the Turco-Egyptian soldiers found a weak point in the cave's roof, threw explosives and lit branches inside, leading to the brutal deaths of men, women, and children. This event, often called the "small Missolonghi" of Laconia, remains alive in collective memory through oral tradition and a folk song.
History and Geography of Paliomonastiro
The Paliomonastiro of Vrontamas is located about 6 kilometres from the village, clinging to a sheer rock face on the western side of the Evrotas River gorge. Its position, resembling an eagle's nest, made it a natural fortress or "castle-monastery." The monastery was founded around 1100 AD during the Komnenian dynasty. The interior of the church features Byzantine frescoes, some dating back to the 12th century, while others are as recent as the 16th century. The variety of themes and styles suggests that the frescoes were created by different artists over four distinct periods.
The Evrotas River itself holds great significance for the area. According to mythology, it was named after the mythical king of Laconia, Eurotas, the father of Sparta. This name is linked either to his efforts to drain the area's stagnant waters or to his death in the river after a humiliating defeat.
The Holocaust of 1825
Ibrahim and his soldiers surrounded the monastery. During the three-day siege, they demanded that the inhabitants surrender and sign "proskynochartia" (surrender documents) in exchange for their lives. The people of Vrontamas, led by the priest Dimitris Papadimitriou and the chieftain Ioannis Karabás, refused.
On 15 September 1825, the soldiers discovered a weak spot in the cave's roof and broke through. They then threw gunpowder and lit branches inside, turning the sacred space into an inferno. The people of Vrontamas met a tragic end, but they did not yield. The chieftain Karabás, though mortally wounded, shouted "HELLAS" before he died. Only two women survived the massacre; they were later bought from slave markets in Alexandria and eventually returned to their homeland.
Unfading Memory
The Holocaust of Vrontamas is one of the most brutal events of the Greek Revolution and is known as the "small Missolonghi" of Laconia. The sacrifice of its people passed into popular tradition and a folk song that preserves their words of defiance: "Vrontamites alive, do not bow to Turks; we'd rather burn than be enslaved." The lament speaks of the loss of the Vrontamites and their fierce defiance
of Ibrahim. It shows how, when history is not written on paper, it finds a
voice in the memory and song of the people.
Three little birds sit on Kritsova’s ridge,
one looks towards Vrontamas, another towards the river,
the third, the finest, laments and says:‘Where have the brave folk of Vrontamas gone?
They are neither at a wedding, nor at a festival,
but they are shut inside the Monastery, under siege.’Ibrahim Pasha passed by and said to them:
‘Come out and bow down – leave the church!’
But they answered him, and replied as one:‘Curse on you and your faith – may you perish, infidels.
The Vrontamites, while we live, will never bow to Turks.
Better to burn, than to be enslaved.’
In 1958, the Palaiomonastiro was declared a historical monument, honouring not only its spiritual value but also the memory of those who were sacrificed there. Every year on 15 September, a memorial service is held as a collective reminder that history is not a forgotten book but a living legacy.
Today, on 15th September every year, the sacrifice that shaped the history and identity of Vrontamas echoes through the surrounding villages and across our land. It is a legacy that unites us, a responsibility that falls on us all – an undying flame of remembrance that continues to light our faith and our freedom.
And there, in the silence of the mountain, the memorial service is held each year: a moment of collective remembrance that history is not a forgotten book, but a living inheritance. And as long as we remember it, and hand it on to our children, the Paliomonastiro will stand tall – a beacon of memory, of freedom, and of the indomitable Greek spirit.
Note: The term "Μικρό Μεσολόγγι" (Little Missolonghi) is a powerful cultural reference. The Massacre of Missolonghi was a major event in the Greek War of Independence, and by comparing Vrontamas to it, the author signifies its immense symbolic importance.
Drone Journey Over the Old Monastery of Vrontamas