Patras / Bala Greece
Greek Orthodox
The monastery, also known as the Old Monastery, was founded around 600 and has been destroyed many times. It was re-established in 1693. Destroyed by the Turks in the 1700s and the ruined monastery was then annexed to the Monastery of Girokomeio and remained as such until 1925. Those relics were transferred to this monastery in 1943 when the Germans turned Girokomeio into an ammunition depot. The monastery has recently been restored. Built at the foot of Panachaikos, iit is at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. There are nineteen nuns; December 6 and May 10 are the patronal dates. The tiny village of Bala is 8 kilometers northeast of Patras.