It must be one of most exceptional Easter celebrations on The Holy Mountain. For the first time (ever?) no pilgrims attended the services because of the Corona lock down in the world. I remember the year 1986, 34 years ago now, when I stayed the Dionysiou monastery during Pascha: with many others I entered the Katholicon on 23 h in the evening and after 8 hours, at 7 in the morning, we left the church again, celebrating and lighting eachothers candles. The Easter morning started in the trapeza with a copious meal with fish and wine! I will never forget this night!

This is a picture I found in the archondariki/waiting room of Agiou Pavlou last year. It shows military, efzones with their traditional clothing and clogs and monks during Pascha in Nea Skiti in 1913, when Athos was just liberated from the Turks.

Wim Voogd, 19-4