How Was Your Trip?

This is a question I’ve been asked countless times by friends and coworkers since I returned. When asked, I reply "great!" "wonderful!" but in my head I’m thinking how inadequate such a casual reply is in conveying the full measure of this adventure. If I were simply on a vacation I might feel satisfied with such a common response. Even in situations where we get a bit more in-depth I’m never sure what to say. How do I convey such an experience? Well… I spent 8-10 hours a day in church. I slept 2-6 hours a day, never in one block. I ate twice a day. I even had to drink boiled sweet coffee (Greek coffee) to meet my daily caffeine needs… now that is a struggle! This was no sightseeing trip, no week on the beach (although that would have been nice!). This was a spiritual pilgrimage that I’m still trying to understand.

Now, I don’t want to make more out of it than it was; I wasn’t looking for answers, direction, or solace on the trip. I was open to whatever might happen. It would certainly be nice to get some "spiritual sense" slapped into me but that was unlikely. Major life changes do happen to folks on pilgrimages. As we saw and heard, many people come to Mt Athos with heavy burdens that are lifted by God’s grace. Again, how do you explain to someone that you stood in awe and prayed before an ancient icon, like thousands before you have done, some of them Saints, and have it make any sense. How do you convey the "other worldly" experience of spending all night in services? I’m reminded of the report to Prince Vladimir of the Rus (pre-Christian Russia 990 AD) by emissaries returning from Constantinople, saying of Orthodox worship: "we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth". How humble and lowly one feels when gazing upon a relic of the "True Cross" of Christ, theuncorrupt (undecayed ) hand of St John Chrysostom, the belt of the Holy Virgin and on and on. Many people would think you nuts, deluded, a fool for believing in such things!

One takes from such an experience a sense of wonder at what has taken place in these great monasteries over the centuries. Indeed, much of what has shaped the course and life of the Church (Orthodox) in the last 1000 years was influenced by those who lived at one time or another on the Holy Mountain. Even today there are many holy men,"elders" and ascetics living there. At other monastaries across the globe there are also many holy women (not to leave out the ladies!). Some, but not all, provide spiritual guidance to others. All strive to pray unceasingly for their own salvation and at that of others.
 
If I had a "mission" on the trip it was to pray for other people: my family, extended family, church family, friends, co-workers and especially those I know who are ill. Rarely was I thinking of myself, I do that enough at home! As we hear many times, the spiritual path is narrow (as depicted in the icon above). We Orthodox don’t believe that simply professing a belief in God or accepting Jesus as one’s personal savior is the beginning and end to the spiritual journey. Growth rather, comes from struggle and hardship; not something we in the 21st century are accustomed to.  It is through humility, repentance, and love that spiritual progress comes often in imperceptible steps. The Church has often been referred to as a "spiritual hospital", if that is indeed true than the monasteries are the "intensive care units". It is here that immersion in the complete cycle of Orthodox worship and the ascetic life that one finds true medicine for the soul.

It even seems that today’s world leaders feel the same way. Read an interesting article about their pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain andVatopedi Monastery prior to a major summit.

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1. This is so true.  I was on Mount Athos in December 2003, and have not yet figured out a way to desrcibe the experience.  God willing, I’ll return some day.

   Posted by James  on  02/25  at  08:36 PM

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