Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Longos

The Holy Monastery of Agia Triada – A Spiritual Landmark of Edessa

Just a few kilometres from the heart of Edessa, in a green plain that breathes the history of ancient Logos, stands the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity. The monastery, which today operates as a nunnery, is one of the most unique religious and architectural sites of the region, with a rich past and a great spiritual presence.

The monastery was erected in 1865, on the ruins of an older church that had been destroyed during the early years of Turkish rule. The new church was not just erected on a sacred site, but was built with respect to its history, as building materials from the adjacent ancient city, such as stone blocks from its walls and Roman inscribed altars, were used for its construction.

The architecture of the temple itself is an element of admiration. It is a three-aisled basilica with three polygonal niches, which end in an equal number of domes. The raised nave dominates the space, while the number of domes – three – is deeply symbolic, referring to the Holy Trinity, to whom the church is dedicated.

Of particular importance is the interior of the monastery, where the gilded wooden carved iconostasis of the 19th century dominates. Among its architectural jewels are the built-in tombstones of Roman origin, which bear witness to the long history of the place and its uninterrupted spiritual continuity.

The construction of the monastery was a collective work of the residents of Edessa, as it was built with the help of guilds, merchants and pious citizens, strengthening its social and religious role in the region. Despite the difficulties it experienced in the 20th century – most notably the loss of its property in 1942 – the monastery continued to function and today it is a living centre of faith and offerings.

Every Sunday and on major feasts, crowds of believers flock to participate in the Divine Liturgy and experience the solemn atmosphere of the place. The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is not just another monastery; it is a place with a strong energetic presence, where tradition, history and faith meet harmoniously under the light of the Macedonian land.