• Greek monastic food gets cookbook treatment

(The Salt Lake Tribune/AP, 15.08.08) A cookbook written by Father Epifanios Milopotaminos, the cook on the secluded Mount Athos sanctuary gives us a rare glimpse into life in this community of some 1,500 monks in 20 monasteries that strictly limits outside access, including barring women. Published in April, ”Cooking on Mount Athos” (so far available only in Greek) offers 126 unpretentious, tasty recipes. ”It’s a clean diet that people once ate across the eastern Mediterranean. It’s the same way meals were prepared 100 years ago, or 50 years ago,” Epifanios says. FOR MORE LOOK AT: http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_10218542

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Exploring Greece: Mount Athos

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)    In 587 A.D., a Byzantine monk named John Moschos set off from Mount Athos in Greece, traveling around the eastern Mediterranean. William Dalrymple’s book “From the Holy Mountain” is a memorable historical journey through the twilight of Eastern Christianity, heartfelt and beautifully told. He is following in the 1,400-year-old path of Friar Moschos and a young student trekked across the Middle East, collecting precious relics and manuscripts from obscure monasteries. Dalrymple’s quest is similar; he is preserving the stories of the last generation of Orthodox Christians in the Middle East.

Foolproof Anti-cancer Diet in Greece

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  In order to avoid cancer, one must live like a monk. That is the inescapable conclusion from research into one of the world’s most renowned monastic communities. The austere regime of the 1,500 monks on Mount Athos, in northern Greece, begins with an hour’s pre-dawn prayers and is designed to protect their souls. Their low-stress existence and simple diet (no meat, occasional fish, home-grown vegetables and fruit) may, however, also protect them from more worldly troubles.  

Thessaloniki: “Top-Pick” City

Thessaloniki was chosen for Lonely Planet’s Blue List, a traveller’s guide highlighting top-picks of cities to go to in 2008. As the renown guide points out, the city combines spirituality and proximity to Mount Athos with a legendary nightlife. Thessaloniki is also known for its excellent food. “Wine Plus,” a company for wine and gastronomy (in Greek) launches a series of wine tasting seminars, as well as workshops in cooking classes at YaMas restaurant, Thessaloniki.

Athens: Exhibition on Mount Athos in Greek art

An exhibition organised by the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation (MIET) entitled “The Holy Mount in Greek art” is to open on January 24 in Athens at the Eynard Mansion (Aghiou Constantinou 20).The exhibition was set up in collaboration with the art gallery of the semi-autonomous monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece and focuses mainly on works produced in the early decades of the 20th century.About 180 paintings, etchings and books by 43 artists will be on display. Some of these belong to MIET’s collection, others are from the Mount Athos Gallery and others are on loan from a number of public and private collections in Greece.