As the sun began to rise high above the wine-dark Aegean Sea, the twelve bells of Great Lavra monastery on Mount Athos pealed out a welcome. In the rock-strewn bay at the foot of the 500-ft. promontory on which Great Lavra stands, a procession of five ships unloaded 1,000 visitors. Jeeps and trucks carried the pilgrims,*who were led by King Paul of Greece, up the steep road to the monastery yard. The bells of other monasteries joined those of Great Lavra in a tolling, rhythmic counterpoint to the chanting of the monks.
The stately occasion was the 1,000th anniversary of...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
