The People

Here are some pictures of the many wonderful people I met.
We were not permitted to take pictures of the monks without their blessing, so all of the following pictures which include monks are thoroughly blessed!

This is Father Ieremias who was one of the monks in charge of the guest house. He is one of several monks from Australia who has come to Iveron Monastery. I was blessed to be invited for several conversations with him here at the guest house.



Father Ierotheos is one of the monks charged with keeping the Portaitissa Chapel (seen here in the background). When pilgrims wish to see the icon in this chapel, he comes to open the chapel for them. He is another wonderful monk from Australia and I was blessed to have the opportunity to soak in his wisdom and kindness!



This is Father Luke, a priestmonk from America. He had been staying for the past few weeks at Simon Petra Monastery (the other side of the Athonite Peninsula) and came to visit Iveron. In addition to several engaging conversations, we also enjoyed a hike to the chapel you see here, which is a few mountainous kilometers from the monastery.



On the left is Andrew, an Australian novice at the Monastery with whom I went on an invigorating hike to the Iveron Skete. On the right is Dr. Harry Boosalis a professor at St. Tikhon's Seminary in Pennsylvania. Every year he brings Seminarians from America to visit the Holy Mountain. He was a great blessing to me, helping me connect with the various people at the monastery.



This picture was taken in Karyes (the capital of Athos) on my way back to Daphne (the port from where I departed). On the left is Father Luke, who I introduced above. On the right is Philip, with whom I had just hiked from Iveron. It was an absolutely beautiful hike and it was complemented by some very enjoyable company. Philip is a writer who has produced several independent films and written several plays. He also teaches art history at a university in Boise, Idaho. Interestingly, he converted to Orthodoxy when researching for a film about a Russian character!

The elder said: When I put myself in order, I put in order a bit of the Church, whenever we can be of one mind. - Elder Paisios (20th Century monk from Mount Athos).

One thing is our aim - love for Christ, for the Church, for our neighbour. Love, worship of, and craving for God, the union with Christ and with the Church is Paradise on earth. Love towards Christ and towards one's neighbour, towards everyone, including enemies. The Christian feels for everyone, he wants all to be saved, all to taste the Kingdom of God. - Elder Porphyrios of the Holy Mountain