Page 85 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 12(2) (2024)

Perceptions of a ‘Journey to the Past’
in Some Viatical Stories at Mount Athos
Percepcije »potovanja v preteklost«
v nekaterih potopisih o gori Atos

Jean-Michel Sourd
Università di Bologna, Bologna
jeanmichel.sourd@unibo.it

Abstract
A careful examination of selected extracts from French travellers who visited Mount Athos between
the 19 and 21 centuries reveal the distinctiveness of this millennium-old Monastic Republic, which
th
st
remains inaccessible to women. These travellers have articulated this sacred site’s unique character 85
through their acute powers of observation. Their accounts reflect a broader narrative concerning the
evolving perceptions of those who regard this Holy Mountain, which has largely retained its tradition-
al rituals and way of life. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the essence of Orthodox monasticism
has enriched Western literature surrounding this living relic of the Byzantine peninsula. This enhanced
comprehension has transformed the depiction of Mount Athos into a compelling account of an initia-
tory journey, offering readers a vivid and immersive experience of its spiritual and cultural significance.
Keywords: Travel literature, Mount Athos, shifting mentalities, initiatory journey

Izvleček
Natančna analiza izbranih odlomkov francoskih popotnikov, ki so med 19. in 21. stoletjem obiskali goro
Atos, razkriva posebnosti te tisočletja stare samostanske republike, ki ostaja nedostopna ženskam. Ti
popotniki so z natančnim opazovanjem izrazili edinstven značaj tega svetega kraja. Njihovi zapisi odra-
žajo širšo pripoved o spreminjajočem se dojemanju tega svetega prostora, ki je kljub temu v veliki meri
ohranil svoje tradicionalne obrede in način življenja.
Poleg tega je poglobljeno razumevanje bistva pravoslavnega samostanstva obogatilo zahodno literatu-
ro, ki obravnava to živo relikvijo bizantinskega polotoka. To razumevanje je opis gore Atos preobrazi-
lo v prepričljivo pripoved o iniciacijskem potovanju, ki bralcem ponuja živahno in poglobljeno izkušnjo
njenega duhovnega ter kulturnega pomena.
Ključne besede: potopisna literatura, gora Atos, spreminjanje mentalitet, iniciacijsko potovanje

Introduction ulate sensory experiences in both verbal and ar-
tistic forms. Such expressions encompass the
hroughout the centuries, travellers to visual splendour of monastic art—encompass-
Mount Athos have engaged in a pro- ing architecture, frescoes, and icons—as well as
Tfound ‘journey into the past’ by residing the auditory dimensions of Byzantine life, in-
in the monasteries of this venerable Holy Moun- cluding chants and prayers. The olfactory expe-
tain (fig. 1). This experience prompts critical in- riences derived from incense and beeswax also
quiry into how these visitors interacted with contribute to this multisensory engagement. Be-
the intellectual and social contexts that shaped yond doubt, the enduring beauty of the land-
Byzantine civilization. It raises the question of scape, revered over the centuries, adds another
whether their perceptions were influenced by a layer of significance to the travellers’ experienc-
romanticized vision of this rich cultural herit- es, inviting reflection on the sacredness attribut-
age manifested through their capacity to artic- ed to this unique environment.
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.12(2)85-103 © author/authors