Our aim on the first day of our pilgrimage in May 2017 was to sleep in the beautifull cell called Maroudá of father Makarios. After leaving the ferry at Panteleimonos and the hike to Paleo Monastiro we continued to walk to Maroudá, but the distance we had to walk was a setback. We did not want to arrive too late in the cell, because I made an appointment to meet a reader of this weblog, Efrem, who promised to be there. So we were very lucky that a car that passed stopped and the driver asked us we would like to have a lift. He was on his way to Vatopedi and would drive past Maroudá. Instead of a hike of maybe more then two our hours we arrived in 20 minutes!

Efrem was already waiting for us. He is member of  the FoMA footpaths team, who were working to keep the monopati and kalderimi of the Holy Mountain in that period. He asked us if we wanted to go for (short) hike in Kapsala. Ofcourse he answer was ‘yes’: I published the first results of this trip here (spot B: the ruined kellion of St. John Chrysostomos).

After this visit we continued our hike through the rough forrests of Kapsala. The area lies – roughlty – North of Skiti Andreou and West of Maroudá, and is hardly visited by pilgrims, because only small cells lie in this part van Athos and there are almost no dirt roads for cars. We started our hike a spot A.

The Kapsala areaSpot A: many signs point to different directionsOur guide that afternoon: Efrem standing under a tree that makes a natural entrance to Kapsala. The stone wall on the left is part of the St. Chrysostomos kelli – spot B.Rickety wooden bridges connect deep ravines: Efrem clearly sees our restraints to pass safely! (spot C).Clearly the FoMa team has some work to do here!Signs to cells of Prodromou, Ag. Georgios, Archelles and Ag. Stefanou Another creaky bridge at spot D.Here the paths splits to the cell of Prodromou.  Looking back to the South: the cell of St. Chrysostomos and skiti Andreou. Soon we arrive at kelli Agiou Georgiou Faneromenou (spot E). Unfortunately nobody was home: just washed clothes hung to dry (photo by Jitze Bakker) Kelli Agiou Georgiou Faneromenou, a view at the mountainDetail: an inscription in a wall of the kelli from 5 June 1891. Who can translate it?

Here is the translation (13/4/18), thanks Konstantinos Prigkipakis)

THIS BEAUTIFUL TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GLORIOUS MARTYR GEORGE THE TROPHY-BEARER WAS REFURBISHED COMPLETELY BY THE MEMORABLE OWNERS HADJIGEORGIOU PAHOMIOU EVLOGIOU, BY THE MONKS AND THEIR COMPANIONS AND HIEROMONK DAMIANOS
5 JUNE 1891

Wim, 28-12-17/update 13-04-2018 (next time more about the hike through the Kapsala forrests)