Travel in Greece

[James]

We are kicking around the idea of traveling to Greece over the Nativity. Most of the travel sources we can find like to concentrate
on things like topless beaches. Needless to say, we want a trip that is centered primarily on churches, monasteries, art and the like. So,
my questions:

1. Does anyone have a good experience with a tour company or travel agency for a trip such as this?

2. Do you have recommendations for places to go and things to see. (Alas, Athos is not an option -- my wife and daughters will be along).

3. If we go, it would be our hope to be in a Church to celebrate the Nativity. Any recommendations? We don't speak Greek, but we don't particularly mind being in the dark linguistically.


In Christ,
James

[Alexis L. Williams]

Dear James,

Greetings in the Lord!

I've been a lurker on this list for a couple of months now, and you've compelled me to make my first post today.

I can't really help you with your first question, but in response to your second and third questions I would like to recommend a book that I recently ran across entitled, I believe, "A Pilgrim's Guide to Greece," by Nun Nectaria McLees.

This is an expansive book of many churches and monasteries in Greece which was written specifically for people planning trips like yours. I myself haven't read the book yet, but I heartily recommend it based soley on the reputation of the author.

I hope I've been of some help.

Pray for me a sinner,
reader Alexis

[John Wilson]

Dear James,

don't rule out Mt. Athos yet. One of the monasteries I wa going to recommend to you is the Monastery (Convent) of the Annunciation near Ormylia in Halkidiki. It is probably only about half an hours drive from there to Ouranoupoli so it would be no problem for your wife and daughters to stay there while you go on to Athos for a few days. Please seriously consider this as an option and let me know if you decide to do this. (There are strict limits on the number of people who can enter Mt.Athos each day, but there are ways around this if you can't find a free spot. The trick is to arrange for a monk on Mt.Athos to invite you.) Many of the nuns at Ormylia speak English fluently and the Monastery is truly a piece of heaven on earth (we visit often). They also recently had their new church consecrated by the EP.

Even if you don't get to visit Mt. Athos, there are literally hundreds of monasteries all over Greece, including the islands. From what I've seen of the tours (from a quick google search on pilgrim/tour/greece) it looks like they pack far too much in each day for you to really benefit spiritually. It has just occured to me that there might be a real need for slower paced pilgrimage tours that don't try to cover everything. You want to end the day spiritually refreshed, not exhausted from rushing from one place to the next.

The monasteries at Meteora are wonderful to visit, and mid Winter would be ideal as during Summer they are crawling with tourists. Actually, late Autumn or early Spring would be better as the roads may become inaccessible due to snow in Winter. We visited at the beginning of Lent and were lucky enough to find all the monasteries open to the public on that day, plus the cool weather kept the tourists to a minimum. I only know of one nun who speaks english at Saint Rousanou, although I am sure there would be many more. Father Iasaf must be run off his feet as currently he is the only monk at Metamorphosi (Transfiguration), the largest monastery at Meteora.

Here is th book that Alexis mentioned:
www.amazon.com Evlogeite: A Pilgrim's Guide to Greece (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0971636516/qid=1056967133/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-4114278-0823241?v=glance&s=books)
and here it is for a third of the price:
2nd Hand - www.amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0971636516/all/ref=dp_pb_a/002-4114278-0823241) Evlogeite: A Pilgrim's Guide to Greece

John.

[James]

I wanted to thank everyone who responded to my question about travel in Greece. Our plans are firming up to visit there in mid to late December. There is so much we want to see, but we are trying to lean toward a trip that is in depth at fewer locations, as opposed to a frenetic tour. Tentatively, we hope to make it to several places around Athens, plus Meteora, Thessaloniki and Aegina. If the weather cooperated, Nativity services on Patmos would be wonderful.

I have to confess that I have (very reluctantly) shelved the notion of visiting Mt. Athos this time. Due to my workaholic tendencies, we have been on one family vacation in the last 19 years. With my oldest now leaving for college, I want to concentrate on doing all of this as a family. God willing, I'll return for Athos.

Even if you are not planning a trip, I heartily recommend the book suggested to me, "Evlogeite: A Pilgrim's Guide to Greece". What a wonderful book! It is the kind of book you can pick up for a few minutes, and be edified by what you read. After finishing it, I think the most lasting impression I have is the sheer wonder of an Orthodox nation. Where I live in the US, we drive two hours each way to our nearest Orthodox parish each Sunday, and I don't think that is awfully uncommon. In Greece (and Russia as well to my understanding), churches and monasteries and relics of saints are everywhere. Such an abundance of riches. It is staggering to think about. What would the US be like if we had such a heritage?

In Christ,

James