Walking, Driving and Flying with the Gods (and Saints): “The Universe is Very Much Alive”

I imagined today’s journeys across Delphi, H0sios Loukas, and Arachova as an earthy congruency to Enoch’s ascension in the “Book of the Luminaries”. In these ten chapters, Enoch is guided by the archangel Uriel through a tour of the universe, receiving answers upon answers to the age-old questions about God’s awesome creation. As George Nickelsburg writes in our class text, this journey allows Enoch to make one simple, yet essential conclusion: the “universe is very much alive”.

Whereas Enoch was most probably guided through this revelation by the means of flight, our ascension today took route by bus (might I add that it began with waking up at 5 am). At two of our destinations, a kind of geographical wisdom became apparent, as they provided unique perspectives into parts of Greece that we had yet to experience.

Hosios Loukas -This historic monastery was ripe with a special feeling of timelessness and warmth. I discussed one thought with Dr. Nelson (a PLU Classics professor who happened to join us for the trip); we pondered the implications of someone wandering away from there village, stumbling upon this area of land up in the mountains, and declaring it fit for a monastery. Cupped in a valley of gorgeous mountains with a priceless view, it would be hard for anyone, regardless of their faith, to encounter this place without feeling any kind of spiritual tug (possibly from the Gods). A more literal representation of walking among the divine can also be found in Hosios Loukas. This is the place where the crypt of St. Luke is housed, his 1100 year-old body being displayed in an air-tight chamber in the chapel (this was the first dead body I’ve ever seen in my life).

Delphi - A similar question can be posed at this archeological site: why/how did they choose to build here? The simple answer is that it provided, in more ways than one, an avenue to experience evidence of the divine. Like Hosios Loukas, the natural beauty of this area is indescribable, and thus offers a visual reminder of the unexplainable power that the Gods’ possess. Another representation of Delphi’s spiritual significance lies in its possession of the most important oracle site of its time. People could come and listen to interpretations of supernatural visions channeled through young women (a constant huffing of natural gas could be a another explanation for their revelations). This sort of contact with, what seemed like, divine commentaries must have provided many with a sense of spiritual proximity with their Gods.

It would be a shame not to admit that I felt a similar kind of draw. Being transported to such an ancient space outside the city limits of Athens provided me with a different means of reflection; I sensed a closeness to the past, realizing a sort of irony in the 3000 years that separates us and the relatively minimal changes to the areas of worships and entertainment that they constructed, and that we still are able experience.