Meteora

Meteora is geological wonder. Byzantine Monks from the 10th century and onward built monasteries atop large rock cliffs by carrying the bricks up one-by-one.
The best place to visit was the Byzantine Church of Virgin Mary. They didn't allow photography inside, but the images on their website (use the link), as well as the descriptions of the church's history, can give you a sense of how unique and amazing it is.

The Monastic Way

I found it fascinating to learn about the monastic way of life. Greek Orthodox priests are allowed to marry, but monks are not. To become a monk is to renounce your worldly possessions and devote your service to the monastery to which you are assigned. Some monasteries were built into the rocks and have chambers that look like caves. They have rooms called ossuaries, which contain skulls and bones of monks who have passed on in the monastery.
Byzantine liturgical music was written in a notation different from modern notation, and Greek Orthodox singers still use it in some places.

Mount Athos

Mount Athos is the Greece's most sacred Christian pilgrimage destination. One can only access it by boat. Only a limited number of non-Orthodox pilgrims are allowed to visit at any given time.
On Athos, I stayed in two different monasteries: Xenophontos (a more liberal Greek monastery where you can go into the church wearing a t-shirt) and Zographou (a very conservative Bulgarian monastery, in which I was made to sit at a separate table because I wasn't baptized in the Orthodox church). In both monasteries I met some very friendly pilgrims, as well as a few people who wanted to keep to themselves. It was one of the most peaceful experiences of my life. I can't find the words to write much about it, so here is a documentary that captures the essence of Athos. (It's pretty long, but watching a little bit of it you get a taste).

Aegina Island

At the end of my Greece trip I stayed for four days in Aegina island and had a room with a kitchen so I could stay in. Aegina has an old Byzantine village of abandoned buildings, some of which contain icons. It is also the burial place of St. Nektarios.
From the top of the highest peak, you can see a 270-degree view of the water. Aegina is also known for pistachio trees.

The Perdika church

On the far side of the island is the town of Perdika.
All of the spiritual experiences I had had leading up to Greece were, arguably, subjective. (Not that subjectivity makes them any less real or true!) But an impossible thing happened in this Perdika church that I couldn't explain. A physical transformation occurred. I have never spoken or written about the details of this event, as I am still trying to feel and comprehend its significance fully. Of course, there's always the chance I missed something. Part of me wants never to share what happened just in case someone else can come up with a rational explanation that I couldn't. But I may share this in person someday if you ask. It certainly made me question my understanding of everything.
The conclusion of my trip to Greece far exceeded my dreams and expectations. I was inspired by the genius of traditions that had inspired and evolved Western civilization. This trip renewed my love of music and theatre.

​And yet, when I returned there was something outside myself that I still needed to explore. There was another burning question: If westerners were able to create an "ultimate religion" to express the universal truths of life in the West, shouldn't it be possible for another civilization to create an equally valid set of truths independently of ours? I began to wonder whether truth was really independent of culture, or if it could be found in an entirely different form elsewhere. And if so, would music and theatre still play a role? These were the questions that took me eastward, to a land far, far away...