FRIENDS OF MOUNT ATHOS
(Registered
Charity No. 1047287)
Fire devastated
the monastery of Chilandar on 4 March 2004. It seems that it started as the
result of an accident with an electric heater. Tragically two monks noticed it
and thought they had succeeded in extinguishing it but failed to notice that it
had spread to a chimney. From there it moved rapidly into the roof, and because
there was a strong wind at the time, when the alarm was raised the blaze had
already spread round half of the courtyard. More than 50 per cent of the
monastery was destroyed including the northeast and northwest wings, the
guesthouse, and some chapels and works of art dating back to the sixteenth
century. Mercifully the katholikon, the refectory, the library, and the
treasury are unscathed and all the fathers are safe, though all are in deep
shock. Graphic illustrations of the blazing monastery may be viewed at our
website (www.athosfriends.org).
This is the first major fire that has occurred within the precincts of a ruling
monastery since our society was founded. We believe that it calls for an
immediate and warm-hearted response.
The society has sent messages of condolence to the Abbot and fathers of
the monastery, to Patriarch Pavle of the Serbs, to the Serbian Church in Great
Britain, and to the Yugoslav Ambassador in London (who is a member of the
Friends).
It is estimated that rebuilding will take between seven and ten years and will cost at least 10 million euros. We have sent an immediate donation of £5000 from the society's reserves direct to the monastery's reconstruction account and we have opened our own appeal account. HRH the Prince of Wales, who has expressed a sense of deep shock and sadness at the news, has already made a generous contribution. Further donations, however great or small, in sterling should be made payable to 'The Hilandar Appeal' and sent to The Friends of Mount Athos Hilandar Appeal, c/o Simon Jennings, Rawlinson & Hunter, Eagle House, 110 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6RH. Donations in US dollars should be made payable to 'The Friends of Mount Athos - Hilandar Appeal' and sent to Professor Robert W. Allison, Dept of Philosophy and Religion, Bates College, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA.
We are hoping to arrange an event in aid of the appeal in the near
future. Meanwhile members are encouraged to keep abreast of developments by
reading the news feature on the website. Obviously the monastery will not be
receiving guests until further notice.
The notice for this year's AGM is enclosed. Once again we encourage as many members as possible to attend and to bring guests. The main speakers are Fr John Chryssavgis and Dr Graham Speake.
Fr John studied theology in Athens and at Oxford. He was co-founder of St Andrew's Theological College (19851994) in Sydney, Australia, where he also taught at the University of Sydney. He was invited to teach as Professor at Holy Cross School of Theology, Brookline (1995-2002), and currently serves as theological adviser to the Ecumenical Patriarch on environmental issues. His subject is 'Discerning the Roots of Athonite Silence: Subtle Insights from the Spiritual Letters of Barsanuphius and John'.
Graham Speake is founder and Honorary Secretary of the Friends of Mount Athos. He
studied classics at Cambridge and wrote a doctoral thesis at Oxford on the
medieval transmission of ancient Greek literature. Since then he has worked as
a publisher and writer. He has visited the Holy Mountain regularly since 1988
and is the author of Mount Athos: Renewal in Paradise (2002) for which he was awarded the
Criticos Prize. His subject is 'The Way of a Pilgrim on Mount Athos'.
Sandwiched between the two talks is the official business of the AGM and as usual there
will be elections. Bishop Kallistos (in his capacity as Chairman), Simon
Jennings (Hon. Treasurer), Dimitri Conomos, and John Arnell have all reached
the end of their term of office and will tender their resignations. All four have
indicated their willingness to stand again. Any other nominations for these
positions should reach the Secretary in writing at least one week before the
meeting. Guests are welcome to attend the AGM but may not vote.
Attendance at the AGM is free. The charge for attending the rest of the day (including
morning coffee and afternoon tea) is £7 / $13 each (students £3.50 / $6.50);
and there will be a buffet lunch costing £12.50 / $23. Names and cheques
(payable to The Friends of Mount Athos) should be sent as soon as possible to
the Events Secretary, Anthony Hazledine, Antique Oriental Carpets, High Street,
Fairford, Glos GL7 4AD.
New edition of
the Pilgrim's Guide to Mount Athos
Stocks of the Pilgrim's
Guide to Mount Athos
(2000) are almost exhausted and a new edition is in preparation. This will take
account of any changes in the procedure for obtaining entry to the Holy
Mountain as well as new telephone and fax numbers, the introduction of the
euro, and so on. It is hoped that copies may be available in time for the AGM on
9 June. Thereafter copies may be ordered from the Secretary (Ironstone
Farmhouse, Milton, Banbury OX15 4HH) at £3.50 / $7.00 each including postage
and packing. The page concerning the procedure for obtaining a diamonitirion is available free of charge, though an sae
would be appreciated.
The society is planning to hold its second residential conference at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, over the weekend of 4- 6 March 2005. Provisionally entitled '"Beauty Will Save the World": Art, Music, and Athonite Monasticism', it will follow a similar pattern to last year's successful conference. Full details and the programme of invited speakers will be circulated later in the year.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified graduate students working for a higher degree or diploma at institutions of higher learning in the UK for the Friends of Mount Athos Travel Bursary. Applicants may be drawn from any discipline but should be already engaged in or willing to become engaged in a project with a specifically Athonite context. The value of the award is £300. Applications, accompanied by the names and addresses of two referees, should be addressed to the Secretary, Dr Graham Speake, Ironstone Farmhouse, Milton, Banbury OX15 4HH. The attention of applicants is drawn to the fact that women are never admitted to Mount Athos.