Walking with the gods: Two sides of the same coin

Today, of all days, has been a godly one. I mean that in the most literal way possible. The beautiful places we visited today were places of worship and sacrifice and praise; the gods (or God) in question is a whole different story!

This Monastery was built over a thousand years ago! Believe what you want but if something this beautiful can last that long and keep its presence, it must be divine. Walking through it was another experience; hushed voices expressed awe at the sight of artistic detail and symbolism. By merely entering the building I felt at ease and curious all at once. The man who founded this place is still here. We passed by his body and silently agreed to save our camera battery for other things, in respect of the dead. The pictures on the walls of saints, Mary, and Jesus were beautifully painted and you can't help but admire the art, no matter what your faith is.
At one point we came across a stack of candles and a place to put them (after lighting them). I asked our fearless leader Dr. Finitsis what the candles were for and he said something along the lines of: they represent a prayer. Immediately I was moved to light one. I put a coin in the donation slot and picked up a candle. Thinking of my friends' safety and happiness, I slowly lit the candle and placed it among the others. Such a simple thing made me so happy.

This is my prayer

To juxtapose this experience we set out for Delphi, what used to be the home of the most famous Oracles in history! Next to this we'd find the Temple of Apollo and somewhere nearby the Temple of Athena. I didn't really think about how different our destinations were until the way home. A monastery, over a thousand years old and preserved very well. Ancient, pagan temples, left in ruins. Although one eventually overwhelmed the other in the sense of popularity, both are equally influential in history. The monastery was a calm, quiet place that lifted a little weight off of my shoulders.
Delphi and Apollo's Temple, where the Oracle did her work, was brimming with mystery and intrigue.

I don't know if it's the walk up this hill or leftover noxious gas but I'm starting to feel really spiritual.

The monastery was beautiful and breathtaking but these ruins have a presence to them. They may be crumbling and broken but they still speak to you. This is where, allegedly, Apollo would use these women as vessels and speak. People from all over the ancient world came to hear advice from these women. Again, no matter what you believe, the influence these Oracles had was amazing. These were some strong beliefs the Greeks had. Strong enough to be willing to lug marble up this hill to build a Temple for Apollo!
It was almost funny seeing these two sites in the same day. I was looking at painted Jesus and then a couple of hours later I'm wondering if I'll start seeing things (afraid that the noxious gases still linger). I walked in the steps of two beliefs, two religions, and two types of gods. I felt a presence in both of these places; nothing supernatural, of course, but a spirituality of an faith that lasted the test of time. Whether it was overcoming and becoming the "popular" faith, or six stubborn columns waiting in the sunlight for their god of light, Apollo, to speak through a vessel.
-Christine