tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7687886961771238263.post121701927544886724..comments2023-12-28T14:51:34.281-05:00Comments on Notes on Arab Orthodoxy: Archimandrite Elisha in an-NaharUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7687886961771238263.post-57937983540981368732011-02-28T15:22:40.392-05:002011-02-28T15:22:40.392-05:00NOTOC, perhaps this depends upon where upon the Ho...NOTOC, perhaps this depends upon where upon the Holy Mountain one goes or who one goes with. I read one account by historian and travel writer, William Dalrymple, who journeyed on Mt. Athos for several weeks and met with quite varied attitudes and responses from the monks, depending on which monastery he visited. As best I recall, Mr. Dalrymple, a Scot, who resides with his family in India, is not a Christian, though he has an interest in spirituality in general. I have also read of a Buddhist monk from India visiting the Holy Mountain (in Mother Gavrilia's biography). There is also the account of the "The Gurus the Young Man and Elder Paisios." The "young man" of this memoir was definitely not a Christian when he started visiting the Holy Mountain and Elder Paisios. Probably what these monks mean by "openness" could be better explored, given the traditional practices of Eastern Orthodox monasticism designed to preserve and protect their prayer and solitude. Despite what you have said, I would characterize a mature Orthodox monk/nun as infinitely more open-hearted toward the other than those of an Islamist mentality that seem to be coming to dominate in many parts of the Middle East today. Perhaps that is the proper context in which to understand these comments.ofgracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472912900056438243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7687886961771238263.post-62272245256018682912011-02-08T18:27:24.940-05:002011-02-08T18:27:24.940-05:00Well, having visited Mt. Athos myself, I cannot sa...Well, having visited Mt. Athos myself, I cannot say that it is a place of openness. This claim sounds almost like a joke. Things are not like that at all. It is like stepping into the Middle Ages, mentally and other wise.<br />Among other things, which are contrary to this claim is the fact that non- Orthodox visitors are not allowed to eat at the same table as the Orthodox during meal time, but are seated at a saparate table and in some monasteries they are put to eat isolated in a different room. This happens because they are heretics, as the monks there like to stress out.<br />Also, non Christians are not allowed to visit the Holy Mountain.<br /><br />Mount Athos is a very special and unique place on earth. A place of deep Monastic Prayer.The monks there live a very strict life filled with solitude, prayer, obedience, service, fasting and they never take a bath or shower or eat meat. <br />However, it is not a place of openess.NOCTOChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17578909479350656439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7687886961771238263.post-58902138460324551892011-02-05T12:52:45.630-05:002011-02-05T12:52:45.630-05:00"We must have zeal and hope in this life. Oth..."We must have zeal and hope in this life. Otherwise, we lose hope in Him."<br /><br />I love his hopeful perspective. Though I would have great trouble selling Mt. Athos as a model of Orthodox openness (though I understand his point). The technology info bit was also pretty interesting, I guess I didn't know what to expect, what is there makes sense though.Savahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15044501739818399370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7687886961771238263.post-86246646774354872592011-02-04T22:08:56.466-05:002011-02-04T22:08:56.466-05:00Welcome back, Samn.Welcome back, Samn.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092811572750842698noreply@blogger.com