« A VISIT TO THE CHAPEL OF SAINT GEORGE
“If I could only have a bowl of lentil soup” »
Posted on July 28, 2010 in 2005 Pilgrimage to the Skete of St. Anna, Mount Athos - 0 COMMENTS
Our Last Days at the Skete…or so we thought
by Rev Fr Chris Flesoras
The next group of pilgrims has arrived at the Skete, many of them visiting for the Feast of a particular house within the community. I was pleasantly surprised when an Athonite monk in the group began speaking English, granted with a bit of a Canadian accent as he was born and raised in Quebec. I was even more surprised when one of the pilgrims approached me, thinking that I was an elder of the Skete! A few words in Greek assured him that I was simply a visitor, far from a member of this community, let alone the Dikaios.
Our program for the remainder of our stay is Vespers, dinner, sleep, and Liturgy. At the close of Divine Services, we will drink one last cup of coffee, toast our hosts with one last shot of tsiporo, and then make our journey down the steps with much more in our possession: the Holy Relic of Saint Anna, a Holy Relic of Saint Anthimos, icons, incense, and prayer ropes for our parish. Of course, we will also carry the countless blessings experienced in our few days at the Skete – priceless treasurers for each of us.
After a brief walk toward the Monastery of St. Paul, I returned to the Skete as the weather began to turn for the worse. As I entered the courtyard, Fr. Cheroubim directed me to the Church for services, he would chant, while I would serve. I was and remain overwhelmed to think that I would serve Vespers as well as Liturgy (I was just informed) the next morning in the Kyriakon of the Skete of Saint Anna, a most beautiful, historical Church, not to mention the common house of worship for sixteen saints of the Holy Mountain!
At the close of Vespers, another group of pilgrims arrived. Father George, a priest who serves as an assistant at a parish in Nafpaktos and Dn. Christos, the newly ordained deacon from the Church of Saint Anna in Kifissia, were in their company. It was decided that the three of us would serve together at the Divine Liturgy the next morning (surprisingly, I would be the chief celebrant on account of my years in the priesthood).
Our fellowship concluded, and I caught up with the dads in the dining hall for dinner. After a bite to eat (Greek fries, olives, bread, feta) and a most enjoyable conversation, the dads retired while I ventured with Fr. Cheroubim to his home to review a few books, enjoy some fresh squeezed orange juice and chat about the Church of America, the Holy Mountain, etc., simply, the things that priests normally talk about when they are together.
During our conversation, he received a phone call with word that the weather would remain poor into the next day. Bad weather on the Holy Mountain means no boat at the port of the Skete. Our stay at the Skete would last, at least, for another day. We concluded our conversation, as we would arise a bit before 5AM for a modified hours services, followed by Liturgy, and the Service of the Blessing of the Water.
Four o’clock sure did come early this morning! Father Theophilos opened the Church, Fr. George, the Deacon and I took Kairo, and vested. They would celebrate the Blessing of the Water while I would prepare the Holy Gifts for the Divine Liturgy. Needless to say, the experience was most memorable for each of us.
We advanced from the Church to the salon for coffee, tsiporo, water, and a piece of chocolate. Fortunately or unfortunately, we learned that there would be no boat this day.
Although it did not seem likely, we would hope (and pray) that the sea would calm by the morning. Now, it was just a matter of making the most of our day.
After a brief rest, we were each given a few tasks to keep us busy. The dads would assist with a longstanding pastoral work of the Skete - the preparation of kits that are distributed to couples who are seeking the intercessions of Saint Anna so that they might conceive a child. The kit contains Holy Water and Holy Oil blessed at the Skete, forty pieces of antidoron, and a pink ribbon, which was placed under the Holy Relic of Saint Anna for forty days as well as the spiritual discipline for the couple (fasting, prayer, confession, anointing with the Holy Oil, daily consumption of the antidoron and the Holy Water, and the discipline of wife wearing the pink ribbon around her waist for the forty days).
The dads were asked to prepare the bags of antidoron. Fr. Cheroubim instructed them to be very careful in their counting as being short a piece could be trying for a couple that was closely following their rule. Being obedient to tradition and Father’s instruction, the dads ensured that each bag at 40. How do I know? Well, they informed us that they thought it better to error on the side of caution by including a few extra pieces, 42 or 43 per bag (this is how tradition starts).
Just about noon, we went to the Church to celebrate Vespers (Fr. Cheroubim would serve while I would chant). Although, it was a bit early in the day, Father thought it wise to celebrate services at this point so we could eat, nap and then work on our tasks until dinner. Amidst our tasks, Fr. Cheroubim and I found time to enjoy a cup of Greek coffee.
Two Russian monks joined us for dinner as they had sought the hospitality and shelter of the Skete due to the weather and darkness. Although they had arrived after sunset, which, according to Athonite tradition is too late to be received by any of the monastic communities, more or less as a safeguard for their communities, Fr. Cheroubim welcomed them to the Skete. They joined us for the celebration of Compline during which we received Father’s blessing and concluded our day. God-willing, we would arise for Liturgy at 5:30AM to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Christ to the Temple and…Fr. Cheroubim’s birthday!
Our morning began at 4:30AM with a cheerful wake up call from Fr. Cheroubim…
