A view of the Varlaam Monastery with flowers in the foreground - Meteora, Greece

The monastery of Varlaam, in proximity to the Great Meteoron monastery, is named for the hermit of the same name who climbed the rock and made it his refuge in 1350. Later in 1517 two brothers from Ioannina, Theophanes and Nektarios Apsarades climbed up the rock and rebuilt the deserted chapel Varlaam had created.

The little chapel became a monastery and was expanded in subsequent years. Theban icon painters decorated the monastery first in 1548 and then in 1566.

Besides the wall paintings the monastery houses an important collection of manuscripts and artifacts.