As wild birds chirp about the spring that restores strength as soon as the weather warms up, as the kisses of the sun sow freckles on the cheeks and make you forget the gusts of cold wind from the sea that have scratched your face, as the clear blueness of the sky makes you turn your head up and gasp, so I become a companion of spring, in my thoughts caressing the welcoming, dry and flower-adorned streets, from which, when the winds and rain leave, summer begins.
Even if it rains again, even if there is a strong wind blowing, somewhere deep inside, the change of seasons has already been recorded and the body and mind are moving towards summer.
Maybe a little too early, I hid the jackets and sweaters in the depths of the closet and exchanged them for a thin blouse and shorts. Maybe I opened the season of drinking coffee on the balcony and long walks a little too early.
Maybe even a little too early, I closed the smell of spring in the jars of memories and I'm already living in the breath of summer. In the heart, the icicles of laziness melt at the speed of light, I want to grab those around me by the hands and take them out into the world to see its renewal. I want to renew myself. Rediscover myself.
To discover newly a different myself. Grown up and brave. But still sometimes lost at the edges of life and daydreaming. Having where to go and what to look for. Not caring that the wind blew my hair and how loudly I laugh about it. Without worry if I look right when I read poetry and get teary with every word. And when something very good happens, I can't control the rivers of tears. I want to rediscover myself: better, more determined, more aspirational. But at the same time, the same stupid one that believes in fairy tales and the naive kindness of people.
And today I hold the hand of my beloved man, and we dive into yet another undiscovered adventure. This time we climb the Ithomi mount and visit the old Monastery of Voulkanou on its top. It's also called the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Summit. Today, the Monastery is widely known as Katholikon. It is open for Mass only on August 15.
The monastery was built in the early 8th century. At this time, there were fights between icon worship's supporters and opponents.
There is a legend that says Voulkanou monastery was built by the monks of another mountain. Monks saw an icon of the Virgin Mary hanging on the oak's branches, and it was lit by a lantern despite the strong storm. The next day, the monks decided to climb the mount, and they found the icon with the lantern. In the very same place, they built the monastery.
Materials were taken from the ancient Messina. At that time, it was a three-aisled vaulted basilica, but in the end, with some later interventions, it became two-aisled. They had harsh living conditions on the mount, so in 1625, monks bought a space in the deserted village and a two-storey tower. There, monks established the Nea Moni Voulkanou - the present monastery complex.
In 1701, the church of the new monastery was built in a Byzantine style with a dome dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church of the old monastery was dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Both monasteries consider those fests as the central feast.
On the 15th of August, during the celebration of The Assumption, the icon of the Virgin Mary is transferred to the old monastery. The icon is making its way back on the night of 19 to 20 September commemorating the miraculous intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the plague spread across Messinia that scattered death and misery in around 1755.
The New Monastery has always been a men’s monastery. It truly looks like a fortress from the outside.
We were impressed, the beauty of the mountain seems to be protected by this monastery. The peace and tranquility we got there gave us a unique experience as always after visiting any monastery, and the visit is worth it.
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