The Monastery of the Transfiguration was founded in 1978 by Father Elie, with the blessing of the Abbot of the monastery of Simonos-Pétra (Mount Athos), at the time the archimandrite Aimilianos and his Council.

The first liturgy and the blessing of the monastery were held on the 24 June 1978, which also marked the founding of the community.

At the beginning, the monastery was established in Martel in the Lot region at a place called "les Pechs Longs".

In 1990, the community moved to the town of Terrasson-Lavilledieu in Dordogne. On arrival the sisters set up a rudimentary house installing a kitchen, refectory, and five provisional rooms. At the same time, an old sheepfold was transformed into two small dormitories for worshippers arriving from far away who wish to spend the night at the monastery, after attending the church services.

Once this initial work was completed, the community undertook the building of a chapel at the centre of the monastery. This was dedicated to Saint Simon the Myroblite (founder of Simonos-Petra) and Saint Nectarios of Aegina to which the church of the monastery at Martel had been dedicated.

Following this work, the restoration of an old cellar was undertaken to house a small winter chapel, decorated with frescoes in the style of the Ravenna mosaics and dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God.

History of the Monastery of the Transfiguration.