For much of the past week, we have been on our midterm break. This free time allowed us to explore the city of Athens in more depth as well as explore the traditions of Greek Orthodox Easter. For me the break consisted of relaxing walks around Athens, thinking about religion––both of Greece and of my own spirituality–– as well as a not-so-relaxing hike on the Island of Hydra. In this time I was able to reflect on my time in Greece and plan how I want my last month in the country to be utilized.
Walking around Athens I was able to reflect on the city and what unites modern Greece. One of these walks included the Good Friday procession around our neighborhood. Here my apartment met other students in the program and observed part of the religious service. Kids were out playing with each other, everyone was talking amongst one another. The atmosphere was both energetic and festive. It was also much more casual than an easter service in the US. I think this experience showed me that religion taught me that religion can be as much about community and cohesion as it is about any specific religious doctrine. During this service procession, we also observed another one of our peers participating in the service, carrying one of the objects of the procession. The joy that I saw in that moment made me happy to have gone on that walk and explored this more modern part of Greece.
Then on Easter Saturday, we took a day trip to Hydra, the Island without cars. It was here where we hiked for about an hour and a half (all uphill) to a monastery on top of the mountain. All in all, we ascended about 1600 feet. Such a journey was both a nice change of pace as well as unexpectedly difficult. We had to take several breaks but in the end, the view was well worth it, along with the contemplation that ensued.
This Island was like nowhere else I have been. In total we saw three motor vehicles, all were for farming or construction. The environment this created was both serene and peaceful. It was almost like there was more clarity in my head. I could hear either my thoughts, the words of others, or nature. No distracting background noises that punctuate modern life. At the monastery on top of the mountain, we sat in silence for the most part. When we did talk we discussed our own forms of spirituality or our plans for the future. It was introspective in a calming way, rather than an existential way. I thought about my own relationship with religion and with whatever god (or gods) exists (if one exists). I contemplated and I pondered
What I took away from this week was that I want to spend more time in nature. Just with my thoughts and the sounds of trees, water, and the wind. These make me feel at peace, and make me reflect on being alive (corny I know). I’d like to leave you with this thought; it must have been a pain in the behind* to get anywhere, especially a monastery like that, in antiquity. With most people having to walk everywhere, it is almost unimaginable to think how small the average person’s world must have been. Even with access to horses or mules, the logistics to sustain a settlement like that monastery must have been immense. I guess that’s why they all have their farms.