Category Archives: people

2022 – Jan Paul ten Bruggencate dies at age of 87

Posted on September 28, 2018 by

Last Friday, 21th of September, on our last day of our 2018 pilgrimage to Athos, my good friend Jean Paul ten Bruggencate died at the blessed age of 87. He visited Athos many times and usually stayed at Maroudá or … Continue reading →

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2019 – Helicopter crash in 2004

Posted on September 11, 2018 by

Today, 14 years ago , a fatal helicopter crash happened just outside the coast of Sithonia peninsula. Everyone on board died. The Chinook helicopter from the Greek army was on its way to Mount Athos, probably to the Heli platform … Continue reading →

Posted in events, news, people, Trip 2018 | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

1979 – Monks and pilgrims in Megistis Lavra

Posted on February 13, 2018 by

I sat quietly enjoying the tranquillity of the evening. It was at the back of the catholicon. Further down a monk sat as quiet as I did. His back against the church. When a monk with a stick crossed, I … Continue reading →

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1963 – Watching people in Karyes.

Posted on December 8, 2017 by

The first monk we saw in Karyes, the capital of Athos and the only village where no one ever has been born, was an old man, whom we had met before on several occasions. The poor wandering man has got … Continue reading →

Posted in 06 Koutloumousiou, Karyes, people, trip 2017 | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1961 – tonight: Saint Niklas evening in the Netherlands

Posted on December 5, 2017 by

Tonight all children (and many adults) celebrate the feast of Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of the old Byzantine saint Agios Nicolaos, who died on the 6th of December 342- 1675 years ago. A good reason to burn a candle for … Continue reading →

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1949 – Tsipras, the avaton and other politics

Posted on November 7, 2017 by

According to a Flemish website, called Kerknet, the avaton on Athos is threatened by a Greek law considering gender (October 15th 2017). The avaton is the ban of women on the Holy Mountain. Prime Minister Tsipras in happier times visits … Continue reading →

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1944 – Maroudá, crosses and chants

Posted on October 11, 2017 by

The special and intimate place called Maroudá is described on this website many times and extensively by Wim (see the following posts: 1789, 1801, 1802, 1805 and 1809). It was our first encounter there. We were welcomed by some pilgrims … Continue reading →

Posted in people, trip 2017 | Tagged , | 6 Comments