It has stood at the same spot for more than 800 years but now a 12th century Greek monastery is on the move to make way for a hydroelectric dam.
The nuns who worship in Holy Virgin of Tornikio, near the northern city of Grevena, will eventually look down on an artificial lake from their new home at the top of a hill.
Workers are now finalising their plans for the move, which will see the 300 ton building hauled 4in onto rails and shimmied up a 24 per cent incline.
The relocation of the monastery, budgeted at 850,000 euros, will be funded by Public Power Corporation.
A team of specialist engineers, led by Dimitris Korres, is expected to take two weeks to complete the project.
Mr Korres told the Kathimerini newspaper that he had been instructed to display particular care during the transfer as the monastery’s interior walls feature rare murals.
He also expressed some concern about the job and said: ‘None of the transfers I have supervised ever involved an incline.’
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