In March, I was able to spend the first three days of the fast at the Chapel of Saint Panteleimon. I took the occasion to open the Chapel of Saint John the Forerunner, which is nearby. I had never been inside before.
The old door was of wood. When it became dilapidated, some entered and left their initials scratched on the plaster wall. We now have a metal door in place. The walls were whitewashed a few years ago, leaving the three apses at the front, which had painted decorations.
The Holy Table is carved from a massive block of granite. The top has been recessed to leave a moulding around the edges, a sign of its antiquity.
In the years I have been here, no one has celebrated the Liturgy in this little chapel. Perhaps this year it might be possible.
The last image reminds me of that Syrian prayer of farewell to the altar at the end of liturgy. Quite lovely!
There is a special hush about entering a space no one has entered for a long time–not so much because you’re alone, but because you’re not alone. Thanks for giving me that sense of presence.