Tag: Europe
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Honoring the “Greatest Generation” at D-Day Commemorations in Normandy
Today, we commemorated the 69th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. In the village of Arromanches, we met a witty British veteran in his nineties with a love of Louis Armstrong and the foxtrot. He was an extraordinary conversationalist. On this day designated to pay tribute to him, he took time to ask questions…
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The Perfect Skopje Excursion: Exploring North Macedonia’s Matka Canyon
Though I love the energy and cultural offerings characteristic of large cities, I’m most at home in natural settings. During my childhood, I’d go “on safari” in my backyard, passing away hours hiking and hunting for fossils and critters. It comes as no surprise, then, that during our travels to North Macedonia’s capital city, Skopje, I…
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Santorini in Black & White
A mere mention of the name Santorini conjures images of turquoise domes, crisply-painted white walls, and a sparkling azure sea. Perhaps it is a sin to present this Greek gem in black and white, yet I appreciate how it opens the eyes to lines and textures often overlooked when the island is otherwise presented in…
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Exploring the Mysticism of Greece’s Byzantine Icons: Profiling Iconographer Dimitrios Moulas
In a two-room workshop dwarfed by the massive Meteora rock formations that surround it, 38 year-old Greek iconographer Dimitrios Moulas demonstrates admirable focus towards his subject — an icon that will soon represent Jesus Christ. With a delicate paintbrush in hand, Dimitrios carefully draws fine facial hairs. After a few moments have passed, the hairs…
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Photo du Jour: A Greek Orthodox Icon – Kastraki, Greece
A Greek Orthodox icon is drenched in sunlight in the Greek village of Kastraki, not far from the famous Meteora monasteries. Spring is in full swing in this beautiful part of southeastern Europe, with a bounty of roses, mint, mulberries, and (almost-ripe) cherries waiting for someone to pick them. In the image, you’ll also notice the flags…
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Orthodox Easter Celebrations in Ohrid, North Macedonia
This spring, we’ve had the fortune of observing Easter celebrations not once, but twice. In Croatia, where Catholicism predominates, we celebrated Easter in late March. This past weekend, in North Macedonia, we had the chance to observe Orthodox Easter festivities. The city of Ohrid has been dubbed the “Jerusalem of the Balkans” since it once…
