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Posted on July 28, 2010 in 2005 Pilgrimage to the Skete of St. Anna, Mount Athos - 0 COMMENTS
Holy Relics, a persimmon, and a rather lively chat with Fr. Alexandros
by Rev Fr Chris Flesoras
In a day and an age when many seek wise elders both on and off the Holy Mount, Fr. Cheroubim reminded us that true holiness is identified when an elder is easier on his spiritual children and harder on himself. The spiritual father, he continued, of course challenges his charges, but remains most realistic of their abilities and gifts, knowing that God remains compassionate, judging the intent just as much as the thoughts, words, or deeds.
Each of us venerated his Holy Relic and then I received a tiny Relic of Fr. Anthimos for our parish. Fr. Cheroubim then brought forth a piece of the Cross for us to venerate as well as a number of other Holy Relics, including a little bundle of thread, which is from the belt of the Theotokos that is kept at one of the other monasteries of the Holy Mountain.
As I returned to the Sanctuary to venerate the Altar Table, I noticed a plaque upon the wall. Upon this plaque was affixed hair from the tonsures of the various monks of this brotherhood. In order according to the dates of tonsure were some names with which I was now familiar: Fr. Anthimos, Fr. Cheroubim, Fr. Theophilos, and Fr. Anthimos. Hanging in the altar, it remains a physical testament to all of those who have made a commitment to the monastic lifestyle at the Skete of Saint Anna in this particular synodia.
Leaving the chapel, we took a quick tour of the house. There were two rooms of particular interest. One room was of the late Fr. Anthimos, which is preserved as it was kept by their saintly father, with the addition of only a few beautiful framed pictures of Fr. Anthimos. The second room that captivated us was their iconography studio. Currently, Fr. Theophilos who is considered to be an outstanding iconographer on account of his precise writing of icons, not to mention that he has mastered the art of painting over gold for a translucent finish on the icon, is working on an icon of St. Raphael. Learning of his talent, I remain most hopefully that we will commission Fr. Theophilos to write the twelve festal icons as well as other portable icons for our Church.
We returned to the balcony. By now, the sun was setting, offering us a most incredible sunset (and, yes, I did take a few pictures for Krissy). As we hadn’t eaten in some time, Fr. Cheroubim directed Petros to bring us a few snacks. Each of us was given a persimmon; cold glasses of water and the tray of dried fruit that we had brought from California were also set on a coffee table. The persimmons were delicious! The secret is to pick them before they are over ripe and to leave them outside until they are soft enough to be enjoyed with a spoon. The dried fruit seemed most exotic for the monks until Fr. Cheroubim began reading the label to discern in which part of California the fruit originated. To our surprise and to a great deal of laughter, Fr. Cheroubim read that the figs were a product of Turkey!
As the walk back down to the main courtyard would be hard for the dads to traverse in darkness, we departed for the guesthouse. To my surprise, the dads inquired about Confession. Neither of the dads has been to confession in a number of years, one since he was married, and the other around high school. Tomorrow morning after Liturgy both would have a chance to confess.
It was about 7PM when we returned to our rooms. It was hard to believe that we had experienced so much in a matter of hours, not to mention that we were going to bed at a bit after seven. We remained overwhelmed and looked with great anticipation to the day ahead, which would begin at 5:30AM with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy…
I awoke at 5AM to get ready for the day. My quick wash coincided with the bells ringing, summoning the faithful to the Kyriakon for services. Taking our places, Fr. Theophilos was set as the first chanter while another brother would be the second chanter for services. Both had beautiful voices, again a fitting reflection on the Skete that boasts the best chanters on Mount Athos.
Services were beautiful and unique. As a visiting priest, I was again asked to recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed at the appropriate points in service. Then, when it came time for the pre-communion prayers, the brothers began chanting the Paraclesis to Saint Anna instead? It was later explained that this is a tradition of the Skete. Since the faithful were preparing to commune with God in the Eucharist, and the Relic of Saint Anna would be brought out for veneration at the close of services, this point in service was deemed a fitting time to seek her intercessions.
The Liturgy ended, we received our antidoron, went to a fount in the left apse of the Church for a cup of holy water, again a tradition of the Skete, and then prepared to venerate the Relic of Saint Anna. Either the Dikaios or a member of his house will bring forth the Holy Relic to be venerated first by the clergy and then the pilgrims. The last to venerate the Relic is he who brought the reliquary forth for veneration.
Departing the Church, we advanced to the formal salon of the Skete for our shot of tsiporo, a cup of coffee, and a sweet. This morning, three other monks who we had yet to meet joined us. Without question, the character of the group was Fr. Alexandros.
His face was full of expression; his personality was lively and entertaining. His Greek was simple and quick. Although appearing as a wise and aged monk (approximately 80 years of age), surprisingly, Fr. Alexandros had only lived at the Skete since 1991. Prior to his arrival at Mount Athos, he was married as well as a father and served as a parish priest. Unfortunately, his wife had passed away and after some time of living with his son, he joined his new family, as he referred to his brother monks, at the Skete of Saint Anna.
Fr. Alexandros shared story after story. The distilling of tsiporo was a lively conversation that offered some funny antidotes. He then shared his thoughts on animals, most specifically pets (basically he like animals but couldn’t get past people keeping them in their homes as they smell. To see his expression as he said this was priceless). And, the conversation that went for some time was his thought that the youth of today both in Greece and abroad have learned to use their minds, but are unable to endure any sweat of the brow (he is confident that he can still outwork most kids in their twenties).
We concluded our time together with a few pictures taken in the courtyard. We returned to the salon to pick up our plates and cups, advancing to the kitchen for a quick washing, evidently feeling much more comfortable and at home than we had the day before. Now seemed like a fine time to do a bit of writing in our journals.
