Roots of faith

Central Macedonia - Roots of faith
Roots of faith

Light a candle, before the heavy gates of the monastery shut behind you.
Let your eyes feast on the deep blue sea surrounding Mt. Athos, the Holy Mountain.

Follow St. Paul’s footsteps around Thessaloniki, the city with the most important Byzantine churches. In Veroia you can see St. Paul’s Tribune [Bema], where he preached to the Nations, and in the small village of Kastania, the Icon of Panagia Soumela [Madonna at Melas’ place], the famous heirloom that refugees from Pontos [the Black Sea] brought with them. At Paeonia, Serres and Pella traditions of worship merge with nature – even at remote mountain tops one can hear the echo of the dialogue between God and man.

阿陀斯山（圣山）
  • Mount Athos (Holy Mountain) - Greece
    Mount Athos (Holy Mountain)

阿陀斯山上的修道院是世界文化遗产，受联合国教科文组织保护，位于哈尔基季基的阿陀斯半岛上，只能从海上进入。虽然只允许男性进入，但是，无论男女都可以从欧波里斯出发坐船游览。

如果想要在修道院建筑以及拜占庭图腾处徘徊，则需要签发特殊的许可证。您的朝圣之旅可以包括Vatopedi 修道院的圣带 (Agia Zoni)、Iviron 修道院的 Panagia Portaitissa 大教堂(圣母像)、卡里埃的 Axion Esti [值得朝拜圣母玛丽亚]标志以及 Xeropotamou 修道院的最大圣十字架。

俄语修道院 St. Panteleimon 的白色主体蓝色圆顶建筑格外地引人注目，还有壮观的塞尔维亚语修道院 Chilandariou （供奉着神圣遗宝圣路加头像），保加利亚语修道院 Zographou、Megisti Lavra 修道院的圣·乔治罗马尼亚隐士。在卡里埃的普罗塔顿教堂，游客可以看到阿索斯山的原始 Typicon，即圣山社区成立法案文件，该文件由马其顿皇室 Ioannis Tsimiskis 亲署，后者即为 10 世纪拜占庭帝国的国王。

Reccomendations
The Monastery Konstamonitou
The Monastery Konstamonitou - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Stavronikita
The Monastery Stavronikita - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Zographou
The Monastery Zographou - Holy Mountain - Greece
Mt. Athos Centre
  • Central Macedonia - Mt. Athos Centre
    Central Macedonia - Mt. Athos Centre

The unique experience of Mt. Athos continues in the city of Thessaloniki, at Mt. Athos Centre, housed in a renovated neoclassic mansion. On the premises visitors can find publications and studies on the Holy Mountain in various languages, enjoy exhibitions or have a rest sipping their coffee in the serene garden cafe.

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The Monastery Simonos Petra
The Monastery Stavronikita
The Monastery Stavronikita - Holy Mountain - Greece
Megisti Lavra
Megisti Lavra - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Apostle of the Nations
  • Central Macedonia - The Apostle of the Nations
    Central Macedonia - The Apostle of the Nations

Talking at the Synagogue of Thessaloniki on three Saturdays of the year 49 A.D, St. Paul sowed the fruitful seed of the Christian message in the heart of Thessalonians and the European Continent.
His teachings provoked the Roman authorities, but his local followers helped him escape through the City Walls. St. Paul founded the Church of Thessaloniki and an imposing church dedicated to his memory stands in the city. If you ask the priests of the church, they will tell you the story of «St. Paul’s holy water spring», where the Apostle stopped to quench his thirst on the outskirts of the city.

The next stop of the itinerary is at nearby Veroia, where pilgrims can visit the Tribune [Vema] where St. Paul preached the Christian faith. An elaborate statue of the Apostle stands there officially revealed by Kirill (Cyril), the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus. Every year the festival of ‘Pauleia’ is held, with events and scientific conferences dedicated to St. Paul’s memory. It is worth climbing up the winding road of Mt. Vermion to breathe in the fresh air and worship at Panagia Soumela [Madonna at Melas’ place] Monastery, an eternal symbol of Pontos (Black Sea) Hellenism.

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The Monastery Koutloumousiou
The Monastery Koutloumousiou - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Philotheou
The Monastery Philotheou - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Simonos Petra
Macedonia of the Greek Orthodox Faith
  • Central Macedonia - Macedonia of the Greek Orthodox Faith

High on Mt. Olympus, follow the path that starts from Apostolidis’ Shelter, at the Plateau of the Muses, and after a wonderful climb on the slopes of the highest mountain of Greece, you will reach the tiny chapel of Prophet Elijah, built by St. Dionysius in the 16th century, at an altitude of 2,800 metres. At Serres it is worth visiting the St. John the Baptist’s Monastery with the wonderful, multi-coloured Byzantine icons.
At Kilkis you can light a candle at St. George’s church and go down the cave of the same name, famous for its beneficial effect on chronic pulmonary conditions and allergies. In Paeonia do not miss the Monasteries of St. Raphael and Panagia (Madonna) of Goumenissa. In Pella you can worship at the historic Monastery of Archangel Michael and in Edessa at the church of the Dormition of the Virgin dating back to the 14th century.

Reccomendations
The Monastery Stavronikita
The Monastery Stavronikita - Holy Mountain - Greece
Old Cathedral of Edessa
Galatista
Monastery of Agia Anastasia Farmakolytria - Halkidiki - Greece
Byzantine Thessaloniki
  • Central Macedonia - Byzantine Thessaloniki
    Central Macedonia - Byzantine Thessaloniki

The city hosts some of the most significant Byzantine churches in the country, which are ruled by a specific protection regime, since they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can worship the relics of the city’s patron St. Demetrius and go through the magnificent church to climb down the steps leading to the crypt where he was martyred.

Light a candle at the early Christian churches of Hagia Sophia [God’s wisdom] and Acheiropoiitos [not made by human hands], enjoy the elaborate 11th century murals at Vlatades Monastery and the ‘red church’ of Panagia Chalkeon [Madonna of the Coppersmiths]. Visit the monument to St. Cyril and St. Methodius and learn about the life and work of these Thessalonian saints who spread Christianity and laid the foundations for the present-day Cyrillic alphabet. To complete the knowledge you acquired about the Byzantine Empire and its century-long ties with Thessaloniki, spend some time at the Museum of Byzantine Civilisation and see some of the hundreds of items on display, including objects, murals, mosaics, valuable utensils, and golden jewellery from that era.

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The Monastery Iviron
The Monastery Iviron - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Konstamonitou
The Monastery Konstamonitou - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Esphigmenou
The Monastery Esphigmenou - Holy Mountain - Greece
St. David’s Church
  • Central Macedonia - St. David’s Church
    Central Macedonia - St. David’s Church

Wander through the cobblestone alleys of the quaint Ano Poli [Upper City] to find the small church of St. David’s, dating back to the depths of the 6th century. Enjoy the rare mosaic with Christ in the centre of the icon, sitting on a multi-coloured arch, with the symbols of the four Evangelists [gospel authors] around him and the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah in the two apses. The old lady who has been looking after the monastery with the rare icon murals will tell you stories about the neighbourhood and the church, while you are enjoying the panoramic view of Thermaikos Gulf.

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The Monastery of Agios Pavlos
The Monastery of Agios Pavlos - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Helandariou
The Monastery Helandariou - Holy Mountain - Greece
The Monastery Xiropotamou
The Monastery Xiropotamou - Holy Mountain - Greece