Agion Oros - Mount Athos

  There comes a time when we all must say goodbye, in this life, to those that have made a significant impact upon us and have moulded us to whom we are today.  These people are considered by us as charismatic and life changing.  I must admit, that it has taken me at least 4 weeks to build the courage to write about him. It has been a difficult to come to terms that he is no longer there, to talk to, to exchange a text message with and to seek his advice.  His loss has been something that has affected me deeply, perhaps, due to being so sudden. There were so many more conversations to be had, so many more ways to help his mission work in Congo so many more spiritual discussions to be had at his beautiful monastic home the Cell of the Archangels in Mikra Agia Anna, Mt. Athos.  I guess these conversations can still take place, however, in the realm of prayer, asking from God to give rest to his saintly soul and grant to him, his deserved place, in the tents of the...

 0076 - The Land Border to Mount Athos (Coast of Ouranoupolis) A short walk from the ruins of the Zygou Monastery, the border between Mount Athos and the rest of Halkidiki can be found.  Photo above - On approach to the coastline. 

0075 -  Zygou Monastery near Ouranoupolis   When you hear the words “Mount Athos”, your mind will be immediately drawn to Monasteries.  What isn't widely known is that the border of Mount Athos, extended much further beyond Ouranoupolis in the past.  Remnants of Monasteries and their dependancies can be found all around the Chalkidiki region.  One of those forgotten Monasteries from the Golden Age of the Peninsula (around the 10th Century) is the Monastery of Zygou. This religious and architectural heritage site stands 2 kms to the east of Ouranoupolis, walking distance to the border of Mount Athos.  Zygou Monastery is considered to be one of the oldest uninhabited ruins of an Athonite Monastery.   It was discovered by the group of archaeologists, coordinated by Ioakeim Papaggelos in 1984. A brief history of the Zygou Monastery.  The first reference regarding the Monastery dates back to the middle of the 10th century.  In the year 958 St...