Agion Oros - Mount Athos

The following photos are from my last trip to the Holy Monastery of Iveron. The Catholicon. Opposite the main entrance of the Monastery. The coastal tower on the coast. Rumour has it that a tunnel exists from this tower into a point in the monastery. This tunnel however, is yet to be discovered. Near the Agiasma of Panagia Portaitissa. One of the monastery's many chapels. A view of the recently restored tower.

The chapel of the the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy (Athoniada) was built in 1901 on the edge of a building wing which served as the guest wing of the Skete of St. Andrew (Sarai). It is ornately decorated with imperial Russian icons, chandeliers and other various items. Its templon is carved wood which is quite beautiful and is adorned with classical Imperial Russian style icons. Its walls are fully painted with classical style paintings with various religious scenes and images of Saints. The chapel is dedicated to the Three Hierarchs (St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, St. John Chrysostom) patron saints of Theological and Ecclesiatical students and studies. I spent an enormous amount of time in this chapel as well as my fellow co-students. Three times a day every single day of the school calendar for Orthros, Esperino (Vespers) and Apodipno. This is we were learned to chant Byzantine music, learnt the typicon of the church, and served as chapel caretakers on a rota...

On our way from Karies to Stavronikita, we pass this cell which is located right on the road toward Stavronikita Monastery. From a young age we explored this cell which has been overrun by the nature and is currently in ruin, however it seems as though some restoration work has been undertaken in order to protect the church of the cell. It appears that the cell had quite a large brotherhood judging from the size of the church and buildings in the surrounds. I have also come to this conclusion after viewing the osteofilakio underneath the church. Here are some photos of this cell. One of the quite large surrounding buildings to the cell. My cousin John amazed after seeing the monks skulls stacked up beneath the church, close up for the first time. Another photo from the osteofilakio. This is how the cell looks from the road. See the scaffolds and evident restoration attempt?

Day Five: Sunday, 17 June — Great Lavra to Prodromos The  simantron   (a wooden board, or sometimes metal bar, that is rhythmically struck with a mallet) began to sound in the courtyard around 3:15 or 3:30 a.m., followed soon afterward—this being a Sunday—by the monastery’s bells, which were rung by our new friend Father Efstathios. We attended all the services this morning—about six and a half hours altogether—including a blessing of the waters in the  phiale   (the largest on Athos), which is situated just outside the  catholikon   beneath a thousand-year-old cypress tree said to have been planted by Saint Athanasios himself. With only some fruit and nuts, a few small potatoes and salad, and a little bread the day before, I was more than ready when we were called to the  trapeza  around 9:45. Following a “brunch” of beans cooked in tomato sauce, bread, water, wine, and a little chocolate cracker something, we ...

From the age of 12 when I first arrived on Agion Oros, the cell of Papa Tychon, The Precious Cross in the Kapsala region was always a source of intrigue for me and my fellow co-students who were appointed to the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita. We spent countless hours wandering around the cell, it surrounds, and also with Father Symeon who liked to practice his english skills with us. The cell is about a half hour walk from Stavronikita and is situated a very short distance from the cell of Father Symeon from Peru. I consider it one of the most beautiful parts of the holy mountain, the natural wild landscape and the peacefulness of its remote location awaken the senses and bring you somewhat closer to a state of total relaxation, allowing you to focus on bringing yourself closer to God. For more information on the life of Papa Tychon, Geron Paisios's spiritual father see the below links in English and Greek. http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2009/09/last-days-of-elder-tycho...