[Abebpabeniemo]

I certainly sympathize with the monks of Esphigmenou. I stayed there twice. The first time in 1969 when there were only two saintly monks. Later in ?1982. This time the whole atmosphere had changed. The Igumen Archimandrite Euthymios was, in my opinion, a saintly elder. I had met him on an earlier visit when he lived in a nearby skete. He was a loving person and left a great impression on me. However the elder was surrounded by some pretty unhealthy spiritual children. When I entered the monastery I was quizzed on my allegiance and whether I was really Orthodox etc.. Standing in the Choir, I was continuously asked if I were indeed 'real' Orthodox. I simply held up three figures ignoring these monastic mosquitoes and concentrated on the service. An older monk, who had been an engineer in France, allowed me venerate the holy relics of St Gregory Palamas and the New-Martyr Agathangelos. The fragrance of this relics filled the church. My knapsack smelt of myrrh for days after. Good memories. In my experience Holy Places are filled with saints and the not-so saintly.