The Monastery of the Transfiguration in Sohos

Last week, Presvytera Sophia, Anastasia, and I went to one of our local monasteries for the Paraklesis service, and there we met some very nice Greeks from Harilaou (see photo above). They were fascinated by the story of Americans becoming Orthodox, and wanted to take us to visit their spiritual father, Elder Ioannikios (click there for his account of his relationship with Elder Porphyrios, and click here to read one of his articles that has been translated), who has established a small monastery (9 monks) near the village of Sohos, about an hour northeast of Thessaloniki.

Yesterday, the three of us were able to get away for a few hours to accompany our new friends to the monastery, which was celebrating the Apodosis of the Transfiguration, it's feast.

The monastery was beautiful, and reminded me a lot of a cell on Mt. Athos. The elder and his brotherhood were in a cell on the Holy Mountain which belonged to the Great Lavra before they were given a generous donation to start this monastery in Sohos.

The elder was very generous with his time with us, and I was very impressed by his joy and sense of humor. He joked with Pres. Sophia and Anastasia and gave them a "kanona" (spiritual rule) to learn 5 Greek words a day and write them down in a little notebook. He said he would test them when they came back to see who had learned more.

In the two photographs above, we are exploring the back of the arhontariki, which has a garden and view out over a valley. Our friends included two women and four of their kids, some of whom you can see here.

Here one of the kids was playing with my camera and caught this good photo of Ana and me.

Here one of our friends kids is getting a hug from the elder.

Here two of the kids are hugging another one of their favorite monks.

Anastasia posing for a picture at the entrance to the monastery.

A small chapel.

Posing with our two friends and the elder. For a few more photos, click here.

Baby Photos by Pres. Sophia (Grandma)

Phoebe in a pink dress.

Paul.

Phoebe again. (No new ones of Benjamin.)

More Baby Photos!

Phoebe.

Phoebe, Benjamin, and mom.

The brothers.

Paul.

Benjamin.

The Babies' Big Outing

After the babies' churching, we decided to celebrate with a small outing from the house after 40 days inside. Inasmuch as it was also Thomas' last day in Greece, Pres. Sophia took us all for a small bite to eat at the lovely cafe/restaurant next to our house called Villa Luna. As you can see in the photos above, it has a gorgeous view over Thessaloniki and the Thermaikos Gulf. In the second photo above, Paul and Benjamin are sharing space inside the stroller.

In the photo below, even our dog, Argos, got in on the family photo.

The photo at bottom is from lunch on Thursday with our neighbors, the Lillies. As it was the last day for meat and cheese before the fast, the Lillies treated us to a BBQ. All the babies are also in one the photo -- one strapped to me, one strapped to Pres. Pelagia, and one in Pelagia's lap.

The Babies' Churching

On Tuesday evening, we all headed to our local parish of St. George's for the babies' churching at 40 days. Presvytera Sophia, Pres. Pelagia, and Thomas each had a baby strapped on, and Anastasia and our neighbor Ann Lillie were also there to help.

At top we are reading the prayers in the narthex. In the second photo, one of the babies is being churched. And the third photo immediately above is of the dismissal.

Afterwards, we wanted to commemorate the occasion with some photos in front of the iconostasis. Below is the family, and at very bottom is Fr. Alexios, the proistamenos (head priest) of our parish, with us.

Tuesday in Thessaloniki with the Family

On Tuesday, Thomas' last full day in Greece, we headed back for Day 2 of the tour of Thessaloniki.

This time we started at the Rotunda, the mausoleum built for the Emperor Galerius around 300. Ironically, this building for Galerius, who persecuted the Christians, was never used by him, but was instead turned into a church dedicated to St. George just a few years later. It is now the oldest Christian church in Greece, although it was not originally built as a church. You can see us approaching it from the back in the photo above.

We toured, we snacked, and we shopped. At one point, we stopped at the famous Electra Palace, reportedly the most expensive hotel in Thessaloniki at at least 300 euro/night, and went up to the rooftop garden for a coffee. Here are Presvytera Sophia, Thomas, and Ana up there, with the water in the background.

Here we are in Aristotle Square, posing with Aristotle himself.

We walked over to the White Tower, but it was just closing. It was closed for several years for renovation and only reopened in the last year or so. I still haven't been inside. Here we are outside it.

We then headed over to the ruins of the palace of Galerius. Here I am looking like a tour guide.

We then took an ice cream break and sat in the courtyard of the tiny chapel dedicated to the Tranfiguration, located 15 feet or so under the current street level.

Finally we stopped to venerate the wonder-working icon of Panagia Dexia, and then headed back home to Panorama to prepare to take the babies to church for the 40-days prayers. (Photos of that forthcoming!)