Most pictures taken on the Holy Mountain show you buildings, paintings and landscapes. Detailed pictures of monks are rare. Whenever you want to take a picture of a monk you have to ask it, and permission is seldom granted. Last year I had a conversation with a monk of Skiti Elias about his subject. He told that he once gave permission to make a picture of his face and a couple of years later his sister, who lived in Athens, found his image in a foreign newspaper advertisement. Since then he refused pilgrims taking pictures and I can understand his reasons !

This picture is taken WITH permission in 1997 in Chilandariou. It shows you a tall, young monk, who is about to open the library, talking with a (much!) smaller, older monk. This friendly monk was taken care of the gardens of the monastery and when we left we promised him to send some seeds of flowers and vegetables, which we of course did.
NB. The monk of Skiti Elias asked us by the way to send a book with Rembrandt drawings, because he painted icons and was interested in art.

Wim, 12-8