Page 171 - GREC14N_SKG_03

SKG

Leaving Paradise
After four days embraced in such divine care and attention,
the return to Ouranoupoli is exhausting. Once again, plastic
chairs on the streets, tourist shops and ATMs in the middle
of nowhere. I could return to Iviron and become an athlete of
God and of the spirit just to escape the ennui of acceleration. Το ταξίδι
But as my driver steps on it to get me to the airport and on my Οι γλάροι κάτι προσπαθούν να μου πουν. Αντιθέτως με
flight to Thessaloniki in time, I do nothing to stop him. I have το Νότιο Αιγαίο όπου οι αγριεμένοι γλάροι τριγυρίζουν τα
just exited a fairytale and, during takeoff, I think and smile ταχύπλοα σαν αλαλιασμένα κοράκια, στον ήρεμο Κόλπο
to myself that, clearly, I am no Jesus! I look towards the hori- της Ουρανούπολης σε πλησιάζουν σαν πουπουλένιες
zon in search of Mount Athos, but cannot see anything any- σαΐτες, σταλμένες από μαγικό χέρι. Διόλου τυχαία οι
more. And just like that, everything was pinned on a board of ντόπιοι τους λένε αγγέλους της Παναγίας. Κάνει ζέστη και
sweet memories, and so they will always remain: the seagulls, στέκομαι στο κατάστρωμα ενός γέρικου φεριμπότ, που
the boat ride of the fishermen-monks with their nets, the joy
of dawn by the forest of cicadas, the two Jewish boys who con-
fessed that their experience on Mount Athos has convinced
them that there is a heaven after all!

Left: Vatopedi Monastery. Right: Stravronikita
Monastery. Αριστερά: Μονή Βατοπεδίου.
Δεξιά: Μονή Σταυρονικήτα.

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