Athos 2005 
The mountain
Xenofontos, oilpainting
hv
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Athos – Agion Oros
It was nice to see these old paintings of mine on your blog about the Holy Mountain. I visited there in April 2004 and was lucky to take part in the Easter services. The whole experience was much more than I had hoped for, my original skepticism being replaced by an immense sense of a higher order. The beauty of the monasteries, the unspoiled landscape, the lack of traffic and most of all the amazing dedication of some of the monks changed my perspective for ever. One of my most treasured memories is the simplicity of the food, so kindly and freely offered to us. Another is the Byzantine splendor of the Resurrection service and the thousand year old frescoes in the Xeropotamos Monastery, where I stayed on the 10th April 2004. As the light of the candles on the immense chandelier flickered across the icons, the melodic singing transcended this realm. I was then sure that human hands and hearts did not create this beauty alone. I was very fortunate to have been given this opportunity and I hope whoever you are, whenever you get there that you too find true meaning in what you see and hear.
God Bless you
George Sfougaras