The old minaret adjacent to St Nikolaos church is a perfect reminder of the way the East met the West in the town I made my home, Chania, Crete, Greece.
The photographs I post all help to tell a part of a longer story that focuses on the town and its citizens, whether they are living there now, or have made their home in other parts of the world. As a newer resident, by writing about the town in this way, I am trying to put some order into the chaos that I seem to be confronted with.
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Church in the rock
Church built into the rock wall, Elafonisi, Hania.
The church is lovely in its simplicity and in its position. It brings to mind our built-into-the-side-of-a-gorge St. George Monastery in Wadi Kelt. Greek Orthodox hermit monks started it in the 5th century. A good photo and summary here: http://www.bibleplaces.com/wadiqilt.htm I hiked there once. Its isolation in the desert and spartan living conditions really make you admire the dedication of the monks.
Is the rock inside as well - I imagine it is. Jams said in his comment how cummuting in dark winter is soul destroyng. At one time I too seemed to live in a tunnel driving to and from work inwinter. But it was living with candle light from 1700 to 0830 that brought on the gloom in more ways than one.
What is so amazing, the rock seems to actually overhang the roofline!
This reminds me of images I have seen of churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia, built between the 12th and 14th centuries. No one really knows exactly how they were carved out of rock!
Love the stark whiteness of the church against the rocks greys! Beautiful!
Hi Kiwi! Beautiful picture; Elafonisi, one good reason why I have to get back to Crete! Have a great weekend! Thanks for your coments on Blogtrotter, now Deep in Crete!
greece and india sure have a lot of things in common. here we have temples in caves or cut into the mountains. you can check my pictures of elephanta caves earlier in my blog. or you may visit my travel blog at http://magictravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/karla-and-bhaja-caves.html
Amazing church. I wonder how old it is. Seems fitting to build a church in the rock. Psalms 18:2 says The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
The church is lovely in its simplicity and in its position.
ReplyDeleteIt brings to mind our built-into-the-side-of-a-gorge St. George Monastery in Wadi Kelt. Greek Orthodox hermit monks started it in the 5th century. A good photo and summary here: http://www.bibleplaces.com/wadiqilt.htm
I hiked there once. Its isolation in the desert and spartan living conditions really make you admire the dedication of the monks.
Is the rock inside as well - I imagine it is.
ReplyDeleteJams said in his comment how cummuting in dark winter is soul destroyng. At one time I too seemed to live in a tunnel driving to and from work inwinter. But it was living with candle light from 1700 to 0830 that brought on the gloom in more ways than one.
What is so amazing, the rock seems to actually overhang the roofline!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of images I have seen of churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia, built between the 12th and 14th centuries. No one really knows exactly how they were carved out of rock!
Love the stark whiteness of the church against the rocks greys! Beautiful!
wow, this is such a cool church, I've never seen a church built in rocks..
ReplyDeleteThough beautiful, its a little bit scaring...
ReplyDeleteHi Kiwi! Beautiful picture; Elafonisi, one good reason why I have to get back to Crete!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Thanks for your coments on Blogtrotter, now Deep in Crete!
greece and india sure have a lot of things in common. here we have temples in caves or cut into the mountains. you can check my pictures of elephanta caves earlier in my blog.
ReplyDeleteor you may visit my travel blog at http://magictravels.blogspot.com/2007/11/karla-and-bhaja-caves.html
Amazing church. I wonder how old it is. Seems fitting to build a church in the rock. Psalms 18:2 says The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
ReplyDeleteAwesome picture.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. They need a MCdonalds next door!
ReplyDeleteI guess it cut down on the cost of building materials! I love it!
ReplyDelete