Something Besides Geocaching!

The Red Hat ladies visited St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery near Florence. Yes, another trip to Florence. I had visited the monastery five years ago when Our Favorite Daughter visited us. Unfortunately, I deleted some of my early blog posts, so there is no blog post comparison.

In the summer of 1995, six monks arrived in the Sonoran desert to established St. Anthony's Monastery, carrying with them the sacred thousand year heritage of the Holy Mountain, Athos.

Before we could enter the grounds, we had to be properly attired.

This skirt's slits had to be closed. A nun is helping pin the slits.

Some of the detailed carving on the Bishop's Throne

The detail on the chandelier in St. Anthony's Chapel

Looking up from below the chandelier

These metal plates, maybe 1"x3", are prayer requests

for health

St. Nicholas Chapel

The arches, the bricks, the stones, the tiles

Lots of visual stimulation on the outside

and the inside

Carved wooden fan decorating the stasidia, the

tall seats used by the monks during the 1:30AM to 4:30AM

service every day of the week

The flower of the palm plant

More interesting visual lines and colors

A part of The Chapel of St. George

Under the palm fronds

The Chapel of St. George had lots of 

eye candy for a photographer

One of tile designs in the floor 

The wooden designs on the ceiling

Another detailed wood carving

There was not many stained glass windows, so

when I saw one over the entrance door...

Another floor tile design

Glass flowers 

More architectural eye candy

Even the lines of the tiled roof were of interest

The bell at St. Demetrios Chapel

Flora lined walking paths

Another interesting but simple wall

Although we were not to take photos of the monks

this one was too unaware for me to resist

A long lens helps

45 monks and novices call the monastery home

This cross needs explanation, your second, no 

maybe third tour guide excerpt...

This is the traditional Orthodox cross, also called the Russian cross; the top small bar is the sign that was placed on the cross with the inscription "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"; the second bar is for the hands. The bottom bar is the footrest; the reason it is slanted is this; the thief crucified on the right of Christ was saved, he went up to Heaven; the other thief went down to Hell. Therefore, the right end of the bar points down to Hell.

For more information about St. Anthony's Greek

Orthodox Monastery visit their website.

A visit to the monastery followed by a meal at Mount Athos,

 the Greek restaurant in Florence, is a fun road trip any day

of the week.