The Time Warp

Anonymous

Today was a monumental day for me because we were given the opportunity to visit a Byzantine monastery over a thousand years old. I have always had a deep passion for Byzantine studies and to actually visit a place burgeoning with such history was hard to contemplate. As I crossed the threshold into the dark cavernous space that is the main chamber of the church, the smell hundreds of years seemed to woosh out at us. Candles burning across the chamber lit what natural light did not and when silence was allowed to permeate the space it was simply awe inspiring. Flecks of gold mosaics glittered down upon our heads as I tried to wrap my mind around the idea that this space had been utilized for innumerable generations while standing remarkably unchanged over the centuries. I left the monastery pondering how much of an impact people have on the earth while simultaneously how much the earth reclaims after we are gone. Out next stop, the Oracle at Delphi is roughly twice as old as the monastery and even with its age represents where humans once congregated for important athletic events, to pay tribute to the Gods, and seek advice. Delphi was lost until the early 19^th century when it was rediscovered by French archaeologists. The area had been covered by earthquake debris and rubble, yet remained relatively intact. Without our reclamation the earth would have swallowed it whole, as was evidenced by the scattered ancient foundations that could be seen down the hillside, shrouded by grass and olive trees.