We had Thursday off this week for National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. It also happened to be St. George’s Day. I had a friend who has had the goal of going up to the top of one of the islands to visit St. George’s monastery. We figured this would be the day to go, and perhaps we would see if people really do head there to make a pilgrimage on this day. I was a bit skeptical, but it turns out to be true. People were pouring onto the island and most of them were heading up to the monastery. We decided to take a carriage ride to the area below the monastery and while waiting for our turn had the chance to enjoy a military band playing in the main square. My only question is, since when does a band need an armed guard? After a bit of a rough ride (there may be no cars on the island but the carriages tear through the streets) we arrived to begin our walk up immediately noticing several things – candles for sale (ok I’m used to those for prayers), ribbons for sale (that seems to be a Muslim thing I’ve seen before for tying on to something as a prayer), daisy chain crowns (seem to have no religious significance), small gold charms for sale all separated into different bins saying “for happiness”, “for baby”…home, car, health, abundance, money, school…, and people selling thread. Thread? What’s that for? As we started going up the steep cobblestone path people were tying an end of the thread to a tree and unwinding it as they walked up leaving a mark of their pilgrimage I guess. A single thread is quite thin but when you get enough of them laid out they can create quite a multicolor web hanging along the side of the path and then soon coating the rocks under our feet. A pilgrimage. Huh, not exactly how I started out thinking about our day, but that is what it began to feel like. Up, up, up to the top to where we joined the line to enter the monastery. Definitely a Greek Orthodox Church. The walls were covered with icons (several of St. George killing the dragon), gilded designs and an open central area. We were swept up by the crowds of people and carried around the edge of the church. Outside and on the way down we came across the tree where many women were trying on their prayer ribbons. Then we came across a sight that I really can’t explain. On the low rock walls people had laid out sugar cubes and stick creating house patterns. Asking for a blessing for their? Wishing to be able to afford a house? Pledging to be a house for God? I truly have no idea, and quite possibly will never know. All in all I have to say that the day was more than I expected in so many ways and definitely a day trip worth taking.
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