#mt. athos

[dramoor]

(Via facebook)

[divinegastronomer]

In culinary esoteric philosophy, the interpretation of the saying "If you die before you die, you won't die when you die" refers to the concept of embracing transformation and change in one's culinary journey.

By "dying before you die," it is letting go of preconceived notions, old habits, and limitations in your cooking style.

By doing so, you allow yourself to evolve, learn, and adapt, ultimately leading to culinary growth and not feeling stagnant or stuck in your culinary endeavors.

[gallerybyzantium]

Inspired by a Byzantine cross designed on Mt. Athos, our Mt. Athos Cross features the image of the crucified Christ with the Virgin Mary (left) and St. John the Evangelist (right).

The letters on the top of the cross are Latin INRI for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”.

 An image of the Virgin Mary appears on the back with the letters Mu Rho (Mother) and Theta Omicron/Upsilon (of God). At the base of the cross appears AG OPOC (Holy Mountain) . https://gallerybyzantium.com/?s=213&post_type=product

[avirotofficial]

The Trip

I had a blessed trip to Mt. Athos. I haven’t really felt any need to talk about it and I have mainly kept to myself. However, since I did say I’d post something I shall share a bit.

The first monastery we visited was St. Paul’s. (Greek)

Notes: They had 4 monks who were less than 5′ tall. I saw a man who looked like a woman. The lokum was covered in coconut instead of sugar.

We passed by New Skete to get to St. Ann’s (Greek)

Notes: Elder Joseph the Hesychast lived in New Skete. My oldest travel companion found out he is extremely unfit. We saw multiple mule trains.

The view of St. Ann’s from the water. (Greek)

Notes: Found the cell we were staying in through the good pleasure of the Theotokos. They have a helicopter pad to airlift sick monks out. Got to venerate the foot of St. Ann. Oldest companion was given a staff by a visitor.

Lacu Skete (Romanian) facing West

Notes: First Athonite vigil, almost 5 hours long. The Elder of the skete sounded like a river when he read or spoke. Saw a man become angelic when he served.

A view within St. Panteleimon’s (Russian)

Notes: God gave us the chance to venerate all the relics upon our arrival. Trapeza can hold an immense amount of monks. They have one of the biggest bells I have ever seen. Finally services in a language I could comprehend without guessing.

Philotheu monastery, view of catholicon (Greek)

Notes: Most beautiful frescoes. Right hand of St. John Chrysostom. Happened to arrive in time for someone’s baptism.

The Holy Monatery of Iveron (Originally Georgian, now Greek)

Notes: There was a monk pretending to be mad in the courtyard. A monk happened to open the chapel with the Portaitissa just as we planned to leave. Really expensive wooden spoons.

Podromu Skete, Romanian.

Notes: Stayed one extra night, met a Canadian pilgrim. Met a holy hieromonk. Beautiful church, not exactly a style I liked, but it worked. Podromu receives about 90 pilgrims a day.

In total, the infrastructure on the Holy Mountain is impressive. There seem to be too many pilgrims. The monks seem worn out from them. It was good to experience the life there and venerate all the holy things. I’m glad I made the trip.

[dramoor]

[dramoor]

“The spirit is nurtured by reading the Holy Scriptures, thinking of God, praying, taking Communion of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, instructions of the Holy Fathers, and good thoughts. It is trained by abstinence, participation in church services and sacraments, and keeping the commandments of Christ. Give thanks to God as often as possible. Implore Him to give you strength and purity. These are the basics of spiritual life.”

~Hieromonk Kirion (Olkhovik), St. Panteleimon’s Monastery, Mt. Athos

(Art via IconandLight)

[dramoor]

“The grace of God entered our soul through the Holy Baptism; it is a gift granted to all of us. Sometimes, we think that God gave to a saint more gifts than others; this is wrong. Christ loves all of His children the same; it is we, however, who do not value and appreciate God’s gift to the same degree. When someone is grateful and believes that the grace of Christ, which he received through Holy Baptism, is inside his soul, he humbles his own will and purifies himself in order to allow divine grace to function. When divine grace functions inside a soul, it makes us think that God favored this person with more gifts. However, the truth is that this person loves Christ more, and through his humility, permits God to act on his behalf.”

~St. Paisios of Mount Athos

(Image via Pinterest)

[dramoor]

“The goal of reading is the application, in our lives, of what we read.  Not to learn it by heart, but to take it to heart.  Not to practice using our tongues, but to be able to receive the tongues of fire and to live the mysteries of God.  If one studies a great deal in order to acquire knowledge and to teach others, without living the things he teaches, he does no more than fill his head with hot air.  At most he will manage to ascend to the moon using machines.  The goal of the Christian is to rise to God without machines.”

~Elder Paisios the Athonite

(Image via full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com)