Concordia CMLL Study Tour

June 3^rd, 2026, started like many other mornings that my classmates and have experienced thus far during our travels. We piled onto our bus, yawning all the way and yet in anticipation of what more Greece had in store for us. In the shadows of Mount Parnassus, we parted ways with the paradise that is Delphi and made the journey to the Holy Monastery of Hosios Loukas.

Born during the medieval Byzantine empire and dating to the 10^th century CE, the monastery was founded by a hermit (later canonized) of the same name, Hosios Louka. The site gained notoriety through the legendary healing properties attributed to the remains of Saint Louka. Myron, the substance excreted from the corpse, was said to possess a miraculous ability to cure ailments of those that came into contact with it. This folklore led to the monastery’s significance as a site of pilgrimage.

Throughout the years, the rich historical remnants of frescos original to the sanctuary became lost to the sediments of time. Luckily, in the 1960’s conservation efforts allowed for the rediscovery of these magnificent murals, murals that we stood before today, and for some of us, murals that triggered an intense emotional experience.

Upon beholding the remains of Saint Loukas, like many others before us, my classmates and I were confronted frankly with the force of our mortality. This force was only intensified the further into the sanctuary we explored. Among the depictions of medieval saints, religious processions and Greek scripture, I found myself in connection with a millennia’s worth of pilgrims, each in the midst of individualized spiritual quests and explorations of the universal unknown. Strengthened by the humanity this connection provided, I passed through the monastery’s pathways, adorned by intricate medieval artistry and cobblestone worn down by human erosion. My fellow students and I were given the opportunity to light candles of beeswax on the altar of Mother Mary. In doing so, I was flooded with memories of those I love who have moved on from this world, and those I am lucky enough to live among. Whatever the personal spirituality, I am confident in saying that for my fellow students and I, the Holy Monastery of Hosios Louka was a beautiful breath of tranquility during a hectic journey across this ancient land, and, speaking for myself, the sanctuary provided emotional insight to a deeper attachment I share with all who walk this earth.

And, as if a divine message was needed for my classmates and I that we are not simply visitors in an empty house, but rather participants within the modern cultural ecosystem of Greece, the employee attending to maintenance of the site swept up the candles and tossed them into the bin, reminding us all of the necessity of finality and that the bus was waiting.

Thank you to the Holy Monastery of Hosios Loukas for hosting us at such a spectacular sanctuary, and a continuing thank you to the residents of Greece for unending kindness and allowance into this breathtaking land.

Abigael Sturgeon