Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-06
HOLY MOUNT TO CHRISTIANS
Land o. Masculine Supremacy Where
All Fowls Are Cocks, All sheep
Rarnn. All Houscmnids Men and
Most Men Monks

across the peninsula from the allies
fortified Balkan port AT Saoniki
lies tabled Mount Athos. to-day a holy
mount 90 the Christians, the domiran MT
physical feature of the Chalcidian region;
and here. where tho ancient gods are nod
ding down upon the mushroom growth ~
wonderful military camp in the old port
city, is situated a s1intly monastic COM
munity. peaceful. reflective, a religious
republic through the dark ages of tho
Balkans. begins a bulletin of tho National
Geographic society, which tells of the
Christian stronghold on Mount hthos that
persisted in thriving for years within the
boundar ies Of the Ottoman empire.
Legend makes the rugged mountain holy
In the eyes Of ell near eastern Christians
and, moreover, tic same legend has to do
with some OF the present day Giscomforts
OF life there high above the blue Aegean
It IL recorded that the Blessed Virgin res
cued the son of tho Emperor Thcudosius
from shipwreck. and brought him safely
through tho violent seas TO the mountain
foot. AS they touched upon the shore
the sacred companion OF the prince com
nanded: Let no other woman's foot
tread this soil after me- And so II comes
that no female beings are allowed upon
the holy mount.
The strict exclusion of all female crcd-
lures from the mount, however has Ger
tain advantages Thus. 70 fresh eggs
may be had on Mount Athoa. and no
milk, for the COW and the hen. under
the ban Of the legend. are kept from Us
a rea II is a place Of masculine iudepcn-
dence and supremacy, a land where al,
fowls are cocks all sheep rams: all cats
Toms: all housemaids men. and most men
monks
The ascent of tho holy mount, to its
realm Of religious and masculine seclu-
sion, Is a tolsome one. \ Dove the mona G.
teries and the hermit cells, thu culmina =
ting. colossal, conical peak Of the mount
breaks into the clouds. This peak is -
majestic that it is said to throw its even
ing shadow across distant Lemnos. kar-
yes a city of quaint dome set in groves of
hazel, is the capital of the community
and. in Turkish times before the war
1912. it was practically the capital of a
Inonastic republic.
On the lower slopes. the olive the cv-
press. the lemon, and the orange form
an outlying fringe of negotiations TIE
higher slopes are climbed by tho oak The
FIR All manner OF vegetables and fruits
are grown in the mona sterV gardens and
the low. rambling buildings accrctive
rather than planned. are picturesque.
honey surroundings. within which to pa SIS
away a calm reflective life.
The monks and hermts of Mount Athos
have been named the l.otos- eaters. nature
around them is beautiful and impressive,
md tl,ptr cl,nlt y,
plenty. On the other hand, some writer's
find the lot Of life upon the holy mount
anything but enviable one says: Nature
and history have combined in making
Mount Athos what it is A milklesa,
mirthless seat of superstitious mediation,
where sanctity is Matched in sable folded
'dleness, where the spirit slunbers rocked
in the cradle of medieval faith. No breath
OF scepticism waited from the outer world
ever reaches these lotopha gian retreats,
no aspiration of those that agitate tho
| 'purblnd race of misera bic men eve
Quickens the pulse of these melanchol,
anchorites." The monks of Mount Athos
however, have deserved well OF the world
by preserving much of the wealth Of old
Greek culture TO modern times
Athos swells the tip of the esstcimost I
tue lnTee nalCiulan DenlnSUlHS. ] n'
mountain reaches a crest $50 feet above
he sea and plunges preciptiously into
the water. Monnsteiies We're founded up-
on the mount IN the early middle ages
s"rne say as early the time or Con-
stantine. They pressed ed their indepen.
dence under Moslem rule. even after as
| sisting in q struggle for Greek indepen-
dencc. and. for centuries, they were the
center OF Greek learning
The peninsula on which Athos is sit-
uated, is ~ miles long. and It Is connected
with the mainland by . neck hardly a
mile and half broad. The way around
tho peninsula was n dangerous one for
sailors, and Nerves., AS part Of his plan
for invading Greece. ran a canal through
the narrow neck. which can still he
traced. In classic times there we're sev-
eral smaller cities here. Now 500 mank,
housed IN ~ monasteiies, constitute the
| life Of Athos and its cause"ay to the
mainland.