mount athos- day 4

Im really behind on my posts. Sorry. So there was the all night vigil on saturday night till sunday morning. For probably 5 hours, i was in a state of semi consciousness. Initially, they had a really nice fire going in the church, so it was just oh so nice and cozy. And the greek "pews" allow you to rest your weight on your arms, and lean, if youre standing; or you can flip the seat down, and lean against the side. I changed from these two positions. The prayers just flowed througje. Theyre were more quiet parts and lowder parts, and moving through the church at different points. But continuous prayer for 8 hours. Wowee. Also, the church and its iconography in this monastery was very old and extremely beautiful. Then at 7 am- breakfast. A full meal deal. We even had fish (that the monks caught), wine, and chocolate!! (and supposedly these fods arent permittes during the great fast- lent). I dont know if i mentioned, but the porter was an australian monk- a young guy. So i had a good chat with him after breakfast. He told me a bit of his own story and how he came to be a monk there. I think it had been 8 years since he was there. He looked early 30s to me. I particularly asked him aboit his family. He had siblings and nephews and nieces. If he stays in the monastery, he wont see some of them ever again. Although he said he did talk with them over the phone. But he said he was part of a bigger family- the church. And he really seemed to be completely fine with iy. I left the monastery at around 9:30am and headed for the other side of the peninsula where i was to catch my ferry at 2:30pm. I wa excited for the walk. I really came to love walking over the past couple of days. I could have gotten a ride, then taken the bus, but i didnt want to. It was just really exciting for me. So i hiked over one half of the way. At maybe 12:30pm, on the other side of the higjest point of the hill, a monk syopped and asked me if i wanted a lift. I got in, and was glad, beccause we covered a lot of ground, but i told him i wanted to get out when we were still maybe 1 hour from the port. The view was really beautiful. I stopped and ate a little something out of my bqg, then carried on for a few minutes. Then i met q man who was very excited to see me. He was speaking russian, so i responded and spoke in ukrainian. It turns out he was ukrainian. Well i tell ya, he was just so excited that i spoke a little ukrainian and that i spoke a little ukrainian. I told him i had to go catch the ferry. He was on his way to st. Panteleimon, the russian monastery. Well, there was just no way he was going to let me walk there. He tried phoning his friend. But when that didnt work, he waved the next car down, while standing in the middle of the roqd, and he smply opened the passenger door to the car, and motioned me to get in. (he didnt bother asking the driver if he would mind drivimg me). So i got a ride to the port with a friendly greek worker on the peninsula. I think he wa an electrician. Then i had a coffee at the cafe, and waited for my ferry. On the ferry ride out, i was really exhausted- finally froom the sleepless previous night). But i was also really thrilled to look back at the mountain, and to be able to say that i climbed it (just abou to the peak). Itjust looked so big from the ferry. The Lord blssed me so greatly on my time on athos. I was sad to leave. I easily understand how some people visit and never leave. It is just such a beautiful life. Really. Who wouldnt want to become a mo.k after visiting thos? But then i remembered that the body is made up of all different parts-each necessary. But i will definitely take my experience of athos with me- probably foe yhe rest of my life. What an amazing and blessed experience. Anybody who is thinking about it should do it. Many blessings. Praise the Lord!