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I’m writing this article on my deck in Nafplio, Greece, where it’s raining in May (uncharacteristically), forcing visitors and locals alike under umbrellas and restaurant awnings.
It’s still beautiful here.
I know all about rain, having grown up in Seattle, WA. In case you’re wondering, the sayings are 100% accurate — it’s wet and miserable for nine months out of the year. From October till June, it’s a marathon of clouds, sunsets at 4:30 pm, and weather that’s slightly too warm for snow, which would actually be really nice for a change.
But I’m getting off-track. The point is, Seattle’s beauty is largely contingent upon Mother Nature smiling down on us from time to time, evergreen trees notwithstanding. As for Greece, there is a layer of beauty that transcends the seasons, the region and even the age we live in. Much like the innate beauty of the Orthodox Church, Greece possesses indelible qualities that mere words can rarely capture. That’s why my tagline to those who don’t understand what all the hype is about always ends with the same message: “Come and see.”
Regular churchgoers will recognize that phrase as the same one we tell those inquiring about the Orthodox faith to explain why going to an Eastern Church feels different. Of course, I’m more than happy to spend hours talking about the unique ecclesiology, liturgical traditions, and the ornate iconography that adorns Orthodox churches across the globe, but it’s always much better to see it for yourself.
The same goes for Greece; if you’ve never been there, believe me when I say that no matter how many photos of whitewashed buildings and ever-blue seascapes you see on social media, being there is something else entirely. You’ve got to see it to “get it.” And for all you non-Greek readers out there — we love you, too — this is just one of many reasons why Greek-Americans can’t help but return to the nation of their ancestors as often as possible.
To finish with a bit of an understatement, let me say that Greece’s beauty is downright contagious, and it’s a feeling that dulls the more time I spend away from it. I’ve spent the last nine months in America, and although I thrive in a different way while I’m there, I never feel more complete and grounded than when I arrive in Greece.
At this point, I’m aware that some readers are probably rearing to point out that Greece in the tourist season is much different than the way the country feels the rest of the year. But as someone who has been to Greece in January and March, I could not disagree more. After all, the Greek people are here year-round, the church bells ring out every day, and the history never dies, so I’ll conclude as I so often do with an invitation to everyone who’s still reading: “Come and see.”