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Orthodox Monasteries: The other side of a scandal

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In the Byzantine years, more than twenty monasteries existed in the medieval city of Mystras. Today, Mystras is a world heritage monument of Unesco but only few nuns stay at the unique monastery Pandanassa, below the imposing castle. 
Mystras, Lakonia, Pelloponisos, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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In the Byzantine years, more than twenty monasteries existed in the medieval city Mystras. Today, Mystras is a world heritage monument of Unesco and a touristic sight. Nevertheless, only few nuns give their life to enshrine the unique monastery ‘‘Padanassa‘‘ that is still in implicitly, built below the imposing castle. Mystras, Lakonia, Pelloponisos, Greece

 © Maro Kouri
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In the Byzantine years, more than twenty monasteries existed in the medieval city Mystras. Today, Mystras is a world heritage monument of Unesco and a touristic sight. Nevertheless, only few nuns give their life to enshrine the unique monastery ‘‘Padanassa‘‘ that is still in implicitly, built below the imposing castle. Mystras, Lakonia, Pelloponisos, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Νun Elisavet, happy as she accomplished her purposed to devote herself to Faith. In the Byzantine years more than 20 monasteries existed in the medieval city of Mystras - a world heritage monument of Unesco.  Today, only few nuns give ‘life‘ to Pandanassa monastery, built below the imposing castle. Mystras, Lakonia, Pelloponisos, Greece

 © Maro Kouri
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Abbess Agapi continues a tradition of 150 years. In the Byzantine years, more than twenty monasteries existed in the medieval city Mystras that today is characterised as a World Heritage Monument of Unesco. Nevertheless, only few nuns give their life to enshrine the unique monastery in implicitly, built below the imposing castle. Mystras, Lakonia, Pelloponisos, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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The young and at the majority international nuns have settled a nest dominated by rest and creation, where cosmopolitism theory gets together with religion modesty. Monastery of Holy Cross, Central Greece: Thebes

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Monastery , on the great ridge of the municipal district of Vayia in the Diocese of Thebes and Livadia, 10 km outside Thebes, is surrounded by lush valleys and sun-drenched fields making a picturesque setting for this unique outpost of multinational orthodoxy. The sisterhood of women is from the US, Armenia, Norway, Israel, Georgia, Romania, Germany, South Africa, Ukraine, Sweden and Lebanon, each of whom have earned scholarly distinctions before entering the sisterhood and continue in theological studies. Just as it accepts women from around the world, the monastery also welcomes visitors of all creeds. Tirelessly the Nuns cultivate the earth, raise lifestock, and keep bees and silkworms. In addition, they cultivate the arts of sacred sewing, gold embroidery, iconography, Byzantine sculpture etc...

 © Maro Kouri
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A great, sprightful, glorious welcome by German abbess Diodora
Holy Cross monastery, Central Greece: Thebes

 © Maro Kouri
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Joyful South African nun washes... the pilgrims‘ cars!
Monastery of holy Cross, Vaya, Thebes, Central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Nurses curry the cross to the chirch of St George, at Easter liany of th epitaph. Corfu city, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Eleftherotria monastery. Nun works the loom. Zakynhtos
 © Maro Kouri
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Icon-painting of Golgotha. Eleftherotria monastery, Zakynthos
 © Maro Kouri
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Eleftherotria monastery. Nun broiders shoes to dress the relics of St Spyridon. Zakynthos, Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Sister Agapi came from Moscow. She feels accomplished and full of homeliness in St. Dimitrios monastery. Ag.Douloi.Corfu, Greece, Europe
 © Maro Kouri
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Father Ioulianos came from Rumania to became a monk in Palaiokastritsa monastery. Corfu, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Palaiokastritsa monastery attracts many young monks and pilgrims. Kids that live in a house with violence, try to find their way talking with monks. Ioulianos came from Rumania to find peace. Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Monks create the monastery‘ site under ... the Holy Glances. 
Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Abbot Efthimios Douis(r) and monk Ioulianos (l) in the monastery‘s stable
Palaiokastritsa. Corfu, Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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In the guest-house. Palaiokastritsa monastery, Corfu, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Preparation for the big feast of Easter Sunday. Palaiokastritsa; monastery, Corfu, Greece

 © Maro Kouri
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Preparing the supper, Abbot Hrysostomos use the ripsaw to cut a big fish.
Monstery of Proussos Virgin Mary, Evrytania, central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Abbot Agelos Lissaris, managed to renovate the monastery, to create museums and a winery. Abbot and pilgrims, enjoy a ‘meze‘ (local food) with ‘raki‘ (from distilled grapes) in the yard of Evagelistria monastery. Skiathos island, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Moments of monasticim at Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Pater Efharistos came from Rumania to live on the highest mountain of the island, as a monk in Padokratoras monastery. 
Corfu. Ionian sea, west Greece, Europe
 © Maro Kouri
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Pater Efharistos came from Rumania to live on the top of mountain Padokratoras in the monastery, in the middle of an electromagnetic forest of antennas. Corfu island. Ionian sea, west Greece, Europe
 © Maro Kouri
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A Buddhist Thailand girl baptizes to Christian at the old-style baptistry of Holy Cross Monastery. Thebes, Central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Nun in front of Byzantine wall, Mystas monastery, Laconia, Pelloponisos

 © Maro Kouri
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In the refectory each creature has its own place.
Palaiokastritsa monastery, Corfu, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Into the rocks, priest Andras, tries to preserve the old monastery of Virgin Mary of the Shelter (Panagia Katafygiotissa)
Anogeia village, Sparti, Lakonia, mount.Taygetos, Pelloponisos, Greece 
 © Maro Kouri
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Monk Daniel Gamoulakos is concentrated to his rosary. The embroided letters on his inner cloth are phrases of a mystic prayer. Panagia Xenon church, Corfu city, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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A woman makes her personal vow “tama” on the sanctuary of Holy Virgin, Proussos, Greece.



 © Maro Kouri
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Holy communion. Proussos monastery, Evrytania, Central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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For centuries the relics of St Spyridon holds imperishable. Monks and nuns  take care of Him. Corfu, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Pilgrimage of the Epitaph, Holy Friday, st Spyridon, Corfu island, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Eptanese, Zakynthos Zakynthos, Easter, Good Friday
 © Maro Kouri
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Monastery‘s litany. Man firing gun during celebration
 © Maro Kouri
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Every Easter pilgrims attend the litany of Viros villlage by walking and then by boat to Podikonisi (Mouseislet) ant to the islet with Panagia Vlahernon cloister. Corfu
 © Maro Kouri
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Holy Friday: Litany of the epitaph. Churh of Saint George under the old castle, Corfu city, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Palaiokastritsa monastery of Virgin Mary Theotokos Palaiokastritisas. Feast of Zoodohos Pigi (life-giving fountain).
 © Maro Kouri
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Many monasteries and churches continue to organise the religion festivals, so people get closer to them., Zakynthos, Keri festival, Eptanese islands, Ioniasn Sea, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Easter,Good Friday, Epitaph procession
St Spyridon monastery, Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, Greece

 © Maro Kouri
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Pilgrims wait in front of St Spyridon church, the blessing.
Corfu, Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Believing in miracles, many pilgrims lay down waiting St Spyridon‘ relic to pass and heal them. St Spyridon church, Corfu city, Greece, Europe
 © Maro Kouri
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30-years old father Sevastianos Latsas (l) decided to become a monk into his childhood‘ favorite  - but abandoned - monastery of Vlahernes at Skripero village. He took a small bank loan and he renovated it. Three years later, his old, good friend Daniel Gamoulakos came to the brotherhood. Both of them work hard to make the 18th cent. monastery famous again, Skripero, Corfu city, Greece 
 © Maro Kouri
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30-years old father Sevastianos Latsas (l) decided to become a monk into his childhood‘ favorite  - but abandoned - monastery of Vlahernes at Skripero village. He took a small bank loan and he renovated it. Three years later, his old, good friend Daniel Gamoulakos (r) came to the brotherhood. Both of them work hard to reborn the 18th cent. monastery.   Skripero, Corfu, Greece 
 © Maro Kouri
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About ten monks live in the gorge‘s monastery. Proussos, Evrytania, Central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Despite his age, abbot Hrysostomos lives and works in the monastery of Proussos gorge. Proussos, Evrytania, Central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Inspite his age, abbot Hrysostomos lives and works in the gorge where the monastery is built. Proussos, Evrytania, Central Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Abbot Hrysostomos roasts some chest nuts meanwhile he waits the melting of the old candls, in order to make new ones. Monastery of Holy Virgin of Proussos, Evritania, central Greece

 © Maro Kouri
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Old keys open the old doors of Holy Cross monastery. Lagadas, Zakynthos
 © Maro Kouri
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The 16th cent. Strofades monastery is built in a defensive tower, in the island Strofades which has a rich biotope - refuge for many birds. Strofades island has only one resident, a very old but active monk, and is 37 seamiles far from Zakynthos. Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Priest-monk Grigorios Kladis, is the only residence of the the 16th cent.  monastery. He makes cheese, bread, he cultivate vegetables and he helps tor the renovation of the cloister that started the last years.  Island Strofades is 37 sea miles far from Zakynthos. Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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In the charnel house of the old monastery Strofsdes, which is built inside the castle (13 cent). Strofades island, 37 sea miles south from Zakynthos, Ionian Sea, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Liturgy in Palaiokastritsa monastery. Corfu
 © Maro Kouri
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Serafeim Konidis is a very young monk-priest  devoted to the renovation of the 16th cent. Strofades monastery as also to the protection of the island‘s biotope. Strofades island has only one resident, a very old but active monk, and is 37 seamiles far from Zakynthos. Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Serafeim Konidis is a very young monk-priest  devoted to the renovation of the 16th cent. Strofades monastery as also to the protection of the island‘s biotope. Strofades island has only one resident, a very old but active monk, and is 37 seamiles far from Zakynthos. Eptanese, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Deacon Efsevios is the only monk who lives in the cloister. He wishes not to be the last one. Kipouria, Lixouri, Kefalonia, Ionian sea
 © Maro Kouri
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30-years old father Sevastianos Latsas (l) decided to become a monk into his childhood‘ favorite  - but abandoned - monastery of Vlahernes at Skripero village. He took a small bank loan and he renovated it. Three years later, his old, good friend Daniel Gamoulakos (r) came to the brotherhood. Both of them work hard to reborn the 18th cent. monastery.   Skripero, Corfu, Greece 
 © Maro Kouri
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Young priest on the litany boat to the islet of Vlahernon monastery. Corfu, Ionian sea, Greece
 © Maro Kouri
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Monk of Palaiokastritsa monastery concetrated to his rosary
 © Maro Kouri
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