Agion Oros - Mount Athos - The Holy Mountain.....

(Photo by Tavarua)

.....a fragrant smoke of aromatic complexity reached my senses - incense - the chant of the monks, the hymns made me think about...

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Facsimile of a 13th century German manuscript

Carl Orff's cantata for chorus and orchestra has made it famous.

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Carl Orff

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.....Carmina Burana (Medieval Latin Poetry and texts from the 11th and 12th century)...composed by Carl Orff in 1937, I made this journey to Mount Athos - established in year 963, located in the peninsula of Halkidiki - Macedonia and the eastern of the three "legs" of Halkidiki - in the 1980's. Unfortunately, I have lost a lot of my photos during the years.....but I will here post one icon I still bring with me around the world "Under Canvas." The above icon was brought back from the Holy City of Karyes, Mount Athos. You can only access Athos from the Aegean Sea and you are required to have a special permit approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This I had (a 4 day permit), and entered into the world of the Eastern Orthodox Church of Monasteries....Athos full of mysticism and religious contemplation. ...It is far much more known today than it was in the 80s. If you could get a permit to visit it would be well worth it...(only males are permitted) The treasures from medieval times, holy relics...are invaluable...St. Panteleimon Monastery, founded in the 11th century is the largest monastery, a Russian Orthodox Monastery (there are approximately 20 monastaries). Here was a fascinating part - when I visited there were still a few monks alive in their late fall of life remembering Tsar Nikolai.....of "White" Russia

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Do not forget life it is not as long as you think it is......

What I am ...You will be.....What you are ....

I was