A visit to the Holy Mountain of Athos
This year again a small group of brothers made a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain of Athos. From 13 to 19 September br Lorenzo and br Fabio, led by br Luigi, stayed in some of the principal Athonite monasteries; almost everywhere they were warmly received in a brotherly manner, strengthening ties of long standing.
From the little town of Ouranoupoli, two and a half hours by bus from Thessaloniki, they took a boat to the tiny port of Dafni and from there they went to the administrative center of the Athonite peninsula, Karies, where they made a quick visit to the recently renovated church of the Protaton, the Koutloumoussiou monastery, the Holy Trinity kellion, and the Bourazeri kellion. They then proceeded to the large Vatopedi monastery, where they spent the night and had a chance to meet the igumen, fr Efrem, together with other monks. The next day, going south, they visited the Pantokratoros, Stavronikita, and Iviron monasteries and spent the night at the little kathisma of Mylopotamos, a dependency of the Great Lavra, a little oasis, where they were received by fr Epifanios and fr Ioachim, who makes excellent wine. The same day, accompanied by fr Ioachim, they visited the Philotheou and Karakaliou monasteries. The following day, going by boat from the little port of Iviron, they came to the Great Lavra and after a rapid visit of the oldest and largest monastery on Athos, stayed for the night at the Romanian Prodromou skete; they also visited the hermitages on the southeastern tip of the peninsula. At dawn on Thursday they took the panoramic path that circles the mountain massif of Athos, arriving at the Mikra Aghia Anna skete in time for dinner. Here they were welcomed fraternally in the Gherasimei kellion by fr Nikiforos and other fathers. A worthy crowning of their pilgrimage was the two-day stay at the Simonos Petras monastery, where the three brothers of Bose were welcomed with particular affection by the members of the community and the igumen, fr Elisseos, who twice met with them personally. After a quick visit of Thessaloniki, on the afternoon of 20 September they returned to Bose.