...observations and ramblings from a learner and traveler...

27 April 2014

Büyükada and Aya Yorgi (The Big Island and St. George's Greek Orthodox Monastery)

During the last two weeks, our family got to spend most of our time on Buyukada, the largest of Istanbul's Princes Islands.  They are something of a tourist attraction, definitely a vacation spot for us city dwellers, and also incidentally has a twice-a-year pilgrimage spot. 

It's beautiful here, even on a foggy day!



The monastery is Greek Orthodox; as mentioned, it is also a pilgrimage spot on the 23rd of April and the 24th of September.  Below are some images, first of the people walking and pulling strings up the hill, then of the monastery and its surroundings.
Walking up to the monastery

Strings and pilgrims

St. George's Monastery


  Paintings of Simeon and Anna, with the baby Jesus


















St. George and the Dragon


The Legend of the Monastery (English)
The Legend of the Monastery (Greek)

No comments:

Post a Comment