READ SNIPPETS
A BIOGRAPHY NARRATIVE
Afterthoughts
The world is in turmoil. People are battling with disease, financial troubles, wars, poverty; the list goes on. Trust in traditional institutions, such as governments and mainstream media, has been shattered. Who can I trust? Can I even trust myself? Over the years I have found that we can apply some of the hermetic teachings to our lives, helping us achieve a better version of ourselves. We can strive to improve ourselves in a field we love, constantly, relentlessly, with discipline. We can stop wasting time unnecessarily. We can humbly approach our own identity, our own perception of who we are, and change any wrong theories and ideas. Then we can give back to our society, build it up a little, make it a bit better than how we inherited it. There is still hope, but we have to act.
REVIEWS
First I appreciate the handwritten signed version of the book, and the polite reference to myself. Once I held the book, it was so interesting and enlightening that I “literally” swallowed it. Even after so many visits to the Holy Mountain I admit that I didn’t know that kind of detail and aspects of the daily life and the procedures of the monastic order. It was extremely interesting and enlightening. I liked the way by which I was referred to, polite and grateful. I also liked the fact that he didn’t criticize the brotherhood, he just observed some facts. He was formal, careful and parsimonious. Kudos. Even the absence of reference to real names was something I liked. However, if the reader knew from the beginning what was going on in Clement’s mind, I imagine they would bet on the when, not the if he would leave. I was sad that he didn’t make it in time to see Elder Vlasios, it would be a huge moment in both their lives. Kudos to Tasos, for being a part of this project, editing and compiling the book in Greek, which is also a highlight of Christo’s life. You two now have ink on you, people have read you and you have traveled them to places where I, even after 20 years of pilgriming regularly, didn’t have the joy to behold. May the book have a great journey, and you captains, may look back sometimes to the port from which you started, that balcony with the amazing view. Amen.
“7 Years on Mt. Athos – The power of believing” … So well written, such simple and austere descriptions, so truly flowing out of the soul… Even from the foreword I was “enchanted” so much, that I wanted to read it without a break! Various thoughts entered my mind, on the various frames of the monk’s life, but also mine. The most important though is that it arouse some emotions in me, particularly for people that I have met and I have near me or further, with whom I have a close relationship or distant. This doesn’t happen often by reading a book. What stunned me was the way that the book ends, the last chapter. The “end” is shocking!
The book “7 Years on Mt Athos, the power of believing” is a excellent narrative! The reader can wander in the secret paths of the Holy Mountain observing the daily life of the monks with human eyes, mortal and sinful! Revealed through standalone small stories are the unknown aspects of the monastic code, combined with the scent of the spiritual routine of devoted but also mortal people. Christos Palaskas, through a consummate narrative doesn’t hesitate to drop the masks and reveal aspects of himself that remained hidden even from us, his closest friends.
It is an internal testimonial of the way of life of the monks of Holy Mount Athos. Revealed through a simple, comprehensive and step-by-step narrative we learn about the daily life of the monks, as well as their conflicts on important or unimportant subjects. The difficulties that monks face are also revealed, coming from the way that they are forced to live (by themselves or their elders). All these are narrated by a man who lived and followed the practice for many years. In my opinion the book can be considered an alternative angle of the life of the monks and can help the reader, but especially the future visitor to obtain a complete idea of what exactly is behind the bright view he is going to come before.
The project “Seven years on Mount Athos – The power of believing” is an indisputable fact, something like an example of life choices, surrounded by a religious frame and our technological society. Of a past, romantic period. What next? Does the life in Seattle have any connection, any semblance to the life on Athos? You will wonder many times… People have three ways to explain “Truth”, Religion, Philosophy and Science. Why then don’t they decide the humanly compatible truth in parallel with their various points of view?
7 Years on Mount Athos is a book about the power of the will and of know thyself. The power of the will to leave ordinary life and join a community with strict rules. The power of the will to practice self-discipline and live in harmony within the brotherhood, away from family, relatives and friends. Know thyself, the author, a curious and explorative mind, came to question the beliefs with which he grew up, studied and learned and through this process changed himself (rerum causas cognoscere). Eventually the power of the will and know thyself made the author to decide to leave the monastic life and return to society. By reading the book one learns to value the important things in life, not waste time on the trivial ones and become a better person.
Christos’ book is a extraordinary reading about a man and his adventure to seek the Truth. His internal struggles and the hard decisions he had to take are presented in a very genuine way, while living on Mount Athos for seven years. The life journey of monk Klimis (Christos’ name as a monk) in the Holy Mountain are described in a very picturesque way. The authenticity of the descriptions about his everyday tasks as a monk, while trying, at the same time, to live a deeply spiritual life according to the monastery doctrine are truly apocalyptic. Definitely a must read for everyone, believer on not, who wants to now about a man’s Odyssey from a western society to a monastic life and back again, the lessons he learned, and how that journey helped him on his pursuit to find happiness and finally salvation.
I had the fortune to work with Christo the time he lived in Thessaloniki, before moving to Seattle. He is an exceptional conversationalist having clean and peaceful eyes. His very interesting book gives, without any fanaticism, a comprehensive glance to a way of life completely foreign to most of us. In addition, it sincerely describes the spiritual voyage of a young person. My congratulations for the exceptional and very brave effort.
I found Christos Palaskas book very powerful. He writes clearly and so well of the mystery of one's personal journey in search of Truth. I think he offers some insights on listening to one's heat and discerning the call of God in the midst of life. I have always loved Mt. Athos and long to visit one day. His book brings one into the inner mystery of that Holy Island of our Lady. There are some very powerful passages where he speaks and writes form the depths of his heart and in that sharing makes real the face of God. I enjoyed this text and look forward to his future writings. He offers an example of the examined life bearing much fruit.