At a Russian Monastery.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 43

At a Russian Monastery.

Tininpiug t< ( l.aHil. tjie way the Kussiuii pilgrims go, writes vs. G.” ill “Country Life,” 1 came lately to NewAthos, the most wonderful monastery, of the Russian world. New-Athos, or Novy' Afon as the Russians call it. is an establishment resembling what the best of English monasteries must have been prior to 1536. It is in itself, by example, u defence of all monasteries, a place to whieh students should journey if jt|uly w-ish to understand all the for good in iu.stit ntioiis onee -condemned as essentially evil. I'here <>ncc more armies of workmen arc employed everyday. and building never ceases. No one seeking work is ever refused, not even the criminal or the passportless tramp. There all eovers j-eceive the monks’ hos pitality of -bed ami board, and worn out pilgrims are furnished with clothes and money to take them home, or to take them farther on their jiiiirnev. ’fhe monks own vast estates, where they grow' their own corn and cultivate the vine and the olive. They have orange and lemon woods. They grind the corn in their mills and make their own bread ; they- press the grape, and the monaslery tablcs toll how generotis !- the supply of wine.