Washington sentinel., 1898-01-29
NO. 80
Athos; the Holy Land ofthe Greek
Church


Church.
1t is singular that the very centre of
the Eastern Church should be located
IN Turkey. This curious fact is likely
to have direct bearings on the future
history Of Europe, little expected bv
people IN general. Were the Sultan, in
some moment of RECKLESS arrogance, or
ungoyeruable ianaticism, to Law violent
hands on Athos, the whole of the Rus
sian Empire would be excited bevond
CONTROL The monasllc establishments
scattered through the wild and lovely
range Of marble hills known collectively
as Mount Athos, form the most singular
system Of conventual life now existing
IN Europe. Iutting out from the south
OF Macedonia is Jagged peninsula, very
familiar and famous in ancient classic
davs under The name Of ChaIcidice.
Three extraordinary and very elongated
promontories run out to sea to form the
face OF this peninsula which looks across
the Agean. The whole tract IS bounded
on he east by the Gulf of Salonica on the
west by that oil Contessa. Between these
arm Of the sea stretch out, in parallel
lines Tor about the same length Of forty
miles, these three lofty anG most lovely
promontories, known in ancient times
as Acte. Sithona and Pallene, but new
respectively denominated Athos, Lon
gos and Cassandra Ofthese the eastern
most IS Athos. The Athonite peninsula
herxes, for across It the great Persian
king cut his canal, very near the bases
OF the three prononto-ies. The COD
formation of Athos may be roughly
judged from the fact that il Is at its base
mile and a half across, while its average
breadth is about four miles, and its length
is forty. Athos IS a delicious mountain
paradise. The old monks in all ages
and IN all lands displayed perfect gen
ius for the selection of delightful loca-
tions, and as such romantic scenic asso
Citations are apt to be combined with the
necessary conditions of seclusion in
remote and secure fastnesses, they were
ena oled to consult both pleasure and
safety in their choice. Who that has
enjoyed visit to Madonna dl Campigho
in Tyrol, can have failed to feel deeply
impressed with the magnifcence. and
the comparative inaccessibilIty, Of that
old hermitage IN the Italian AlDsl The
Grimsel Hospice IS another grand speci-
men.
The extreme point of Athos IS a noun
tain nearly 1000 feet in height This
wonderful hill of white marble falls
precipitously into the sea. Down from
its northern sides runs the chain OF hills,
covered with xurious vegetation,
amongst WIG slopes the monks dwell
in their many -etrj IS, dotted for miles
about the peninsu' The lovely forests
are maintained in a condition OF peren-
nial verdure when all lands around are
whitening under the blazing sun OF the
southern summer. The waters with
perpetual night mIsts endow Athos with
a heritage of precious moisture. Athos
is the most perfect specimen remaining
on earth of &c nuine religious republic.
For more than thousand years this
wonderful community tas existed, its
origin lost in antique Legendary records.
The Emperor Constantine himself Sc
cures the credit. according to some OF
these, Of having founded the first OF
these htTmitages. How very venerable
the whole system is may be inferred
from the certain fact, that one of these
houses was restored goo years ago!
Those who chose the romantic site ~
derstood their business as well as-..asi-
stantine did his in selecting the Golden
Horn for the location o, his metropolis;
or as Peter the Great comprehended the
conditions favorable to his scheme for
a new capital, when he built on Vaslh
Island, in the bosom OF the Neva, the
hut which is still the sacred spot to which
we repair when we want to stand in the
very heart OF St. Petersburg. All the
terrible vicissitudes and ruinous crises
which have destroyed successive Insti-
tutions in southeastern Europe have
been survived by the monks Of Athos.
1t is simply marvellous that the devas-
tation which rolled over the whole ofthe
rest OF the Byzantine Empire left this
precious spot unscathedl Can it be
wondered at that the millions Of the
Eastern Church regard this immunity
as nothing less than miraculous, and that
this secluded collection OF venerable
sanctuaTies is regarded as being almost
as hallowed as jerusalem itself' The
beauty Of AthOs is such that it IS a sacred
f'iryland-a mountain and garden nest
ling in the enchanting Southern sea.