The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-03
THE MONKS OF ATHOS
STRANGE MEN WHO INHABIT THE
FAMOUS GRECIAN MOUNTAINS.
Great Antiquity of the buildings
Shrines Richly Decorated with
the Work of GoIdsmiths.

LONDON Letter.
The region of Mount Athos is as strange
are the persons and habitations of its
occupants for natives they are not. The
monasteries properly so called are twenty
in number and dispersed over every part of
the peninsula These have their several
estates, both within the territory of Athos
and elsewhere; they have each the right
of self-government, as well as a share in
the government of the community. In ad-
dition to these there is a class of religious
house subordinate to the others and with
out any independent corporate existence.
These are called asceteria, and are sub
ject to one other of the principal mon
asteries, being governed by an officer ap-
pointed by them. To the monasteries ana
their dependent asceteria must be added
an innumerable quantity of cells and her
mitages grouped around the asceteria,
clustered together, or standing solitary in
almost every part of the holy mountain.
The holy mountain is second only to Je-
rusalem in the estimation of all pilgrims
of the Greek faith. Mount Athos affords
a combination of natural beauties rare
in the East, the scenery and vegetation be-
ing of unusual variety. Its shape is long
and narrow, having an average breadth of
four miles, while its length is forty miles,
There is but little level land on the penin-
sula, the ridge of hills running down the
center as rule running down to the shore
The peak rises like pyramid with steep
summit of white marble to height of
nealy 1000 feet, and is the terminal peak
of the most eastern of the three peninsula
promontores which stretch south from the
coast of Turkey into the archipelago. It's
position in the waters keeps the forests of
Mount Athos fresh and green and the
climate is for the most part healthy and
pleasant.
ORIGIN LOST IN oBSCURITY
The origin Of the ecclesiastical state re-
siding in Mount Athos appears lost in OBJ
security, but from evidences extant it is
found to be very ancient. and that COM
paratively few vicisstudes have befallen
the strange community since its founda-
ton. 1t is believed that except the dwell
ings of Pompeii some buildings in Athos
are the Oldest specimens of domestic
architecture in Europe. The shrines are
in many instances richly decorated with
goldsmith's work of great antiquity. The
wealth, too, of the monastic libraries in
illuminated manuscripts is immense. but,
unfortunately, in spite of much leisure and
goes on. The monasterieS appear to have
no chronicles or archives, but some have
in recent years been found to possess char
tiers and title deeds, grants made by BY
Zantine emperors with the ancient gold
seals still attached.
gressive classes. On entering the monas-
terry they undergo a novitiate of three
gree of the lesser habit, and in rare in
stances, except at the hour of death, to
ina OF the greater habit. On admission
himself to abide perpetually in the monas-
tic life, in celibacy, temperance and piety,
brotherhood. The lesser habit, although
practically the condition in which their
lives are passed. is properly regarded as
monk wi n
is invested with it is expressly stated to
receive it as an earnest of the greater
habit. When he is admitted to the highest
order he repeats his former pledges. and
adds solemn Remuneration of 1.-The world
to the commandment of the Lord" The
discipline is severe and the services long
All are bound, besides yigils Ember DAYS.
and special or local fasts, to keep four
'Lents." comprising Lent proper, Advent,
and two periods, one, variable, according to
other feasts, preceding SITS. Peter and Paul,
and the other of fortnight preceding the
fasts in the absolute sense Of the word.
though the feebler members by custom
allowed the use of a little bread and water,
which is placed ready on the refectory ta-
BILE. The offices sometimes occupy sixteen
or seventeen hours and about eight to
chapel prayers never cease, the monks re-
lieving each other every two hours. The
monks never sleep more than 1--WE or six
hours. They go to their cells at 8 or in
the evening, and they are aroused at in
the morning for early prayers. They never
taste flesh meat at all; on 159 days in the
year they have only one meal, and at this
eggs cheese, wine, fish, milk and oil are
forbidden them Though allowed the
other days. and their diet consists merely
of vegetables and bread boiled in water
On no day have they more than two meals
engaged in manual labor. They mostly wear
the Albanian costume shirt and kilt of
dark cloth all over gold braid, giltebut tito
CATERS, and profusion Of small weapons
stuck In a gray-cclored sash. The hos
pital, the pharmacy, the kitchen, and store
houses occupy many of the monks, the
libraries many more, the sacristy and treas
ury some while few are scholars or
artists. One stringent and universal rule
applying to the peninsula is the exclusion
not only OF women but as far is possible
milk, butter, Tor eggs can be had, although
the latter are occasionally imported Oil
vegetables, salt fish, picked olives and
black bread are staples.
WINES AND TWO SORTS OF LIQUORS
The drink is more varied and excellent,
for In addition to the pure water of the
many mountain springs there is wine and
two sorts of liquors. one called raki, or ami
seed brandy, the other mastic, or raki with
an infusion of vegetable gum called mas
tic. Raki forms one of the conversational
signs Of greeting and hospitality. A young
monk brings in on salver vase full of
sweet preserve or dried fruits and several
large glasses Of water, and correspond
ing number Of small ones of raki.
The monks call themselves IAN everlast-
ing nation, in which no man is ever born -
but in spite of their exaggerated misogyny
1t is as we'll to note that the mountain is,
dedicated to the. Blessed Virgin. One of
the monasterieS is also under the patron
age Of another woman, st. Anne, and some
of the most precious relics are said to have
been brought to the holy mountain by AN
unknown woman whom tradition calls .'the
beautiful Mary" The case of a Ship
wrecked woman being thrown on the coast
is foreseen and provided for. The Oldest
monks in the community would take charge
of her for the shortest possible time con-
sistent with humanity; she would be housed
apart from any other habitation in a lone
ly part of the mountain and at the earliest
possible moment taken by boat to the near
est port. Russians, Servians, Bulgarians,
Roumanians, etc, have foundations among
the monasteries, and contribute in many
ways to support their national communi-
ties The monastic republic is protected
and respected by the Ottoman government
in consideration of a heavy yearly tribute.
The Byzantine school of painting has its
headquarters here, and continues it's old
traditions with hardly ray of Western
influence to modify it's spirit. To the