Agion Oros - Mount Athos

On the 24th of June we commemorated St. Athansios Parios a Saint with very close ties to Mount Athos and the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy (Athoniada). Our venerable and God-bearing St. Athanasius Parios, known as "Master of the Greek Nation," was a hieromonk who was an eminent theologian, philosopher, educator, and hymnographer of the eighteenth century.  He was the second leader of the Kollyvades movement, succeeding Neophytos Kausokalyvites (1713-1784). He also wrote the lives of a number of saints. Neophytos Kausokalivytis In 1752, he traveled to Mount Athos and enrolled in the Athonias Academy, where he studied under Neophytos Kausokalyvites and Eugenios Voulgaris.  Evgenios Voulgaris At Mount Athos, he was ordained a priest by St. Marcarius of Corinth. He later studied at Corfu under Nikephoros Theotokis.  The Old Athonite Academy  Ruin...

In continuation of my series of posts relating to a rare book on Mount Athos by Hieromonk Stephanos, Greek - ΛΕΥΚΩΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΟΡΟΥΣ ΑΘΩ, french - ALBUM DU MONT - ATHOS, we will explore the author and his biography. Upon conducting an extensive search of the web in Greek and English regarding Hieromonk Stephanos, I could not find many sources, however I did manage to find a short biography and other short references to him which I will collate below: Hieromonk Stephanos of Karies (1885 - 1965) The Hieromonk Stephanos, worldly name Stergios Lampropoulos, was from the village Rodovistsa in the province of Tsotiliou in the state of Kozani. He was born in 1885 and was tonsured a monk in 1903 at the Cell of St. Thomas of Fr Serapheim in Karies, Mount Athos. In 1906 - 1907 he founded, along with Panagiotis Stournaras, the Photographic workshop "Athos", and eventually maintained on his own after 1912. The workshop was located in the yard of the Cell. He was ...

In Part 3 I will continue re-writing from the newspaper article from the Church Times dated April 17, 1924 and titled HOLY WEEK ON MOUNT ATHOS. More than a thousand were there in 1914, when the abbot threw off his monastic robes and showed the uniform of a general underneath, and with the help of his three priors as colonels turned his soldier-monks into a very creditable brigade! However, that is over now, and if the Russians erred, verily they have been punished. The Greek monasteries, however, are emphatically alive, though, as their own wiser heads are ready to admit, new life is wanted for the old frame, and intelligent adaptation old machinery to new needs. Thus, at Vatopedi, where hospitable monks received us for the night when our day's wandering was done, the life of an Orthodox Monastery flourishes as of old. Here, as is general with the older houses of the Holy Mount, the plan of the whole declares that it was designed to keep monks safe from pirates when those g...

Upon closer inspection of the telegraph, I discovered that it contains details of Mount Athos as seen by the author of the telegram whilst on a pilgrimage. THE TELEGRAM Perhaps they were notes taken in order to be used for the newspaper article we are about to explore. As mentioned in the earlier post, the newspaper article is dated April 17th 1924 over 90 years ago. THE BEGINNING OF THE ARTICLE The Article is titled Holy Week on Mount Athos - In a self governing Church State. Instead of photographing the entire article, I will re-write it to make it easier for you to read. I will do this over the course of the next few posts. The article begins... Nowhere on earth, we suppose, does there exist such a museum of ninth-century architecture, institutions, and thought as can be found on the "Holy Mountain," a place which is reasonably hard of access even in these days of easy transport, but which receives every visitor with a welcome. One thing only doe...

Upon searching the internet for various material and books related to Mount Athos, I came across this particular book which was for sale in a book shop specialising in old and rare books,  in the United Kingdom. Of course, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to have it. I therefore purchased the book and will now share its contents with you over the next few posts. THE FRONT COVER OF THE BOOK  It looked quite intriguing and was perhaps the first album of pictures published concerning Mount Athos.  It was first published in 1912, written and published by the Priestmonk Stephanos of the Holy Cell of the Apostle Thomas in Karies Mount Athos. Perhaps I could do some research on this cell and dedicate to it a post in future. Upon opening the cover of the book I found a dedication dated 18th of January 1918. It seems as though the rest of the text is in French and I cannot understand what it says. Perhaps we have some French speaking followers that may be able...

Dear Readers and followers of this blog. Some time has passed since regular posting has taken place on this blog. I will re-commence periodical posts on the blog especially leading up to an imminent trip back to the Holy Mountain. I trust that you will enjoy some of the content. Regards, Fr George Frangos