When greek writer George Zarkadakis was in the monastery of Paulou (photo by hv, may 2007) he heard this story:
You know the legend of the Twelve? asked father -Ioakim as we waited for the weather to change in the small kitchen of the monastery. They say that up on the Athos highest reaches there lives a small community of twelve Athonites. They live completely isolated from the rest, naked, without shelter, feeding only on wild grass and praying continuously, impervious to the elements that lash at them everyday. Whenever one of them dies, they come around the monasteries seeking a replacement. They stand in the distance and wait for someone to come out and join them. If no-one does they go on to the next Monastery and do the same. They never speak a word. Their call is a silent one. There will always be somebody to make them twelve again because, you see, their number must always remain constant, like the number of Jesus’ apostles. They say that the twelve have reached sainthood and their lives are one with God…That is the power of true and selfless prayer.
He is pretty convinced that there are still wolves on Athos:
Bad weather continued pounding at the Monastery throughout the night. The heavy rain filled the mountain’s crevices with water which formed torrents and streams. The roaring sound of water gushing from the thick forest was my companion throughout the night. I slept in a large room with other pilgrims who were all anxious for their return to Karyes. But, without the boat service, return was impossible. There were no cars or buses and the walking trail took more than six hours through heavy cold and rough terrain, not withstanding the packs of wolves one could encounter along the way.
hv
-
Recent Posts
- 2237/2 – a reminder: file a complaint against the new large scale commercial company “Avaton water”on the Holy Mountain
- 2240 – Xiropotamou monastery and the question of the strange figure in de clock tower (a jaquemart) – part 2
- 2239 – 2022/2023: large scale renovation activities on Athos
- 2238 – Athos photo exhibition “Between Heaven and Earth” in Germany by Theodosios
- 2237 – file a complaint against the new large scale commercial company “Avaton water”on the Holy Mountain
- 2236 – Athos monks pray for peace and the cessation of the war in Ukrain
- 2235 – In search of Virginia Somers’ lost letter
- 2234 – Xiropotamou monastery – part 1
Recent Comments
Vasílis on 1743 – the Silouan mill… VolodK on 2237 – file a complaint… Japetus on 2240 – Xiropotamou monas… Tina on 2222 – new Athos documen… athosweblog on 1972 – the hike in Kapsa… T. V. on 1972 – the hike in Kapsa… Japetus on 2239 – 2022/2023: large… athosweblog on 2237 – file a complaint… Gregor on 2237 – file a complaint… bernd on 2237 – file a complaint… Categories
- 01 Lavra
- 02 Vatopedi
- 03 Iviron
- 04 Chilandariou
- 05 Dionysiou
- 06 Koutloumousiou
- 07 Pantocratoros
- 08 Xiropotamou
- 09 Sografou
- 10 Docheiariou
- 11 Karakallou
- 12 Filotheou
- 13 Simonos Petras
- 14 Paulou
- 15 Stavronikita
- 16 Xenofontos
- 17 Grigoriou
- 18 Esfigmenou
- 19 Panteleimonos
- 20 Konstamonitou
- arsanas
- art
- basic information/reservations
- Bogoroditsa/Xylourgou
- books
- border
- Chromitsa
- Dafni
- Dimitriou
- events
- films
- food
- Germans
- history
- Karoulia
- Karyes
- Katounakia
- Kavsokalivia
- kellia
- konaki
- maps
- monasteries
- mountain
- Mylopotamos
- nature
- Nea Skiti
- news
- Orthodoxy
- Ouranoupolis
- Paleo Monastiro
- people
- Prodromou
- ruins
- skiti
- Skiti Andreou
- Skiti Anna
- Skiti Lakkou
- Skiti Profitou Eliou
- Thebais
- Timiou Stavrou
- trip 1989
- trip 2007
- trip 2009: Herman's group
- trip 2009: Wim's group
- trip 2011: Herman's group
- trip 2011: Wim's group
- trip 2013
- trip 2014
- trip 2015
- trip 2017
- Trip 2018
- Trip 2019
- Uncategorized
- walking
- war
- wine
- women
- Zygou
Links
Archives
Athos – Agion Oros
Athos Twitter
- Ruins at the border and in Karyes athosweblog.com/2013/11/23/147… 2 weeks ago
- Xiropotamou monastery and the question of the strange figure in de clock tower- part 2 athosweblog.com/2022/06/06/224… 2 weeks ago
- The beautiful photographs of Dutch teacher Herman Hissink made in the 70 ties athosweblog.com/2014/12/09/164… 1 month ago
- The first bus on Athos was a Mercedes athosweblog.com/2015/03/29/170… 1 month ago
- 'God exists, naturally' by Herman Hissink, a Dutch teacher who introduced his students to Athos in the 70ties athosweblog.com/2016/03/29/180… 1 month ago