Mr Jan Paul ten Bruggencate started his latest visit to the Holy Mountain with a night in Skiti Profitou Eliou. This is an extraordinary achievement, because non-orthodox pilgrims are not allowed to sleep in this Skiti.

He told me that he used the help and influence of his German Athos friends, who have a special relationship with this Skiti.  Skiti Profitou Eliou

 Entrance

 Inside the katholicon

 Monk watering the flowers

 Pantocratoros seen from Profitou Eliou

 The other way around: Profitou Eliou from Pantocratoros

 Pantocratoros and the Holy Mountain

  The kiosk of Pantocratoros: Jan Paul ten Bruggencate and a monk with fancy sunglasses

 Katholicon Pantocratoros

 Pantocratoros trapeza

Fresco trapeza: the Panaghia on her deathbed

 Fresco trapeza: the deathbed of Efrem the Stylite from Syria. The most reliable date for his death is 9 June 373. Look at the fine decorations above this scene: Saints with delicate red and white vines between them!

Stavronikita and the Holy Mountain

Wim, 4/7 (edited 11/4/15)