1680 – Memento Mori in Dionysiou

Just outside the gate of Dionysiou along the stone benches the path to Paulou starts. There are some old buildings on the left and a sea view on the right. The path narrows a bit and takes a sharp turn, going down. Right in the bend there is a building with a closed door.
Schermafbeelding 2015-02-16 om 21.38.25

In front of it is an abstract mosaic made of black and white pebbles. It’s a smaller version of the mosaic inside the monastery. I opened the door and saw a corridor, maybe five meters long. At the end of the corridor there is a stone staircase. Three steps down. It is the cemetery of Dionysiou. In the building is a cove with the skulls of the deceased monks. Some have their names written on their foreheads. So we won’t forget them. They seem eager to rush out of the cove; towards the resurrection.
Schermafbeelding 2015-02-16 om 21.37.59The bones are stored in another building. They were laying there in a chaotic way. All mixed up.
herman
(photo by Herman Voogd)

Schermafbeelding 2015-02-16 om 21.37.25The recently deceased monks have a peaceful temporary grave in the cemetery. Here with the monastery Dionysiou in the background.
Schermafbeelding 2015-02-16 om 21.36.59The cemetery is built on two terraces looking down to the harbour. The age the monk died, happened to be my age. It did not feel like a coincidence, when I stood there. Some come sooner, others later, so I thought, it is the transient nature of all earthly goods.

Bas Kamps

This entry was posted in 05 Dionysiou and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

1 Response to 1680 – Memento Mori in Dionysiou

  1. Sean Surlow says:

    Thanks for the photographs and information.

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