Optical illusion
A journey to the Holy Mountain, Άγιον Όρος, of Athos
Last week I made a journey to - accompanied by my brother and my father - the semi autonomous Monastic State of Athos, which is located on a 350 km² peninsula in the North of Greece. Regarded as UNESCO World Heritage, it is a place of stunning nature and fantastic architecture, but above all a religious place. Around 2000 Christian Eastern Orthodox monks permanently live in the 20 monasteries, and many small settlements called 'skites' or 'cells' and all dedicate their life fully to religion and pray for many hours a day. Women are not allowed to visit the peninsula, due to a ban since 1046 called 'Avaton': it is felt by the monks that their presence is distracting for those living in celibacy and that they may alter the social dynamics of the community. Whatever one may think of, this, it has been the case for centuries and is unlikely to change. A trip to Mount Athos is not easy to organise; one requires a special 'visum' (called 'Diamonitorion') of which a limited number (90 for Orthodox, 10 for non-Orthodox pilgrims) are issued. Pilgrims that visit the Holy Mountain are offered monastic hospitality: they are allowed to sleep and eat in the monasteries. In the coming photo's, I will try to give a glimpse in pictures, and also in words, what life is in this ancient and truly extraordinary place...
Depicted is the Dionysiou Monastery (Μονή Διονυσίου), founded in the 14th century, of which I will tell more in the coming photos....
A journey to the Holy Mountain, Άγιον Όρος, of Athos
Last week I made a journey to - accompanied by my brother and my father - the semi autonomous Monastic State of Athos, which is located on a 350 km² peninsula in the North of Greece. Regarded as UNESCO World Heritage, it is a place of stunning nature and fantastic architecture, but above all a religious place. Around 2000 Christian Eastern Orthodox monks permanently live in the 20 monasteries, and many small settlements called 'skites' or 'cells' and all dedicate their life fully to religion and pray for many hours a day. Women are not allowed to visit the peninsula, due to a ban since 1046 called 'Avaton': it is felt by the monks that their presence is distracting for those living in celibacy and that they may alter the social dynamics of the community. Whatever one may think of, this, it has been the case for centuries and is unlikely to change. A trip to Mount Athos is not easy to organise; one requires a special 'visum' (called 'Diamonitorion') of which a limited number (90 for Orthodox, 10 for non-Orthodox pilgrims) are issued. Pilgrims that visit the Holy Mountain are offered monastic hospitality: they are allowed to sleep and eat in the monasteries. In the coming photo's, I will try to give a glimpse in pictures, and also in words, what life is in this ancient and truly extraordinary place...
Depicted is the Dionysiou Monastery (Μονή Διονυσίου), founded in the 14th century, of which I will tell more in the coming photos....