The church bell rang loud as usual today. I was on my toes out of bed in seconds.

I just couldn't help feeling so sleepy during liturgy I was opening and closing my eyes throughout the service. Once I had antidero (bread) I was ok. We had morning coffee tsoureki and pita outside and afterwards we helped the elder clean the gas stove. It took me ages to degrease and scrub the grime off it.

Then the elder had our morning/lunch planned. He sent us off to a nearby skeet to a monestary of St Deonisios. We caught the boat again and three stops later we arrived. This monastery was like a sky rise built on a rocky mountain. This monastery could easily house 50 people.

We asked for Father Pavlos; a very tall and skinny man young with a wide bears and wore glasses. He had a Cypriot accent. He greeted us and showed us to where we were to venerate the the right hand relic of St John the forerunner and St Gregory of Palamas. So we did. Seriously what a privilege. We also were shown some 12th centuary iconography depicting sertain event that happened in time. Like what's in the book of revelations.

We waited an hour in that monastery before getting the boat back to our skeet.

We were given to eat klitharaki salad and feta cheese bread and cherries. Then I had a nap. Ive so far since yesterday had two hours sleep.

After evening liturgy we gathered out side on the balcony overlooking the beautiful Greek peninsula ocean line and in the horizon the sun set. The water in the ocean was flat, the most perfect setting for a group talk.

Father Serafim spoke to us about faith, confession, the monastic life and temptation. We spoke as a group till dusk.

A few things that I can walk away from that talk is that to be close to Christ our God we must make an effort firstly, Secondly to be obedient to God and to put into routine in your daily life which allows you remember and worship and pray to God. we our selves are responsible for our sole and that we should make choices and decisions that will benefit our salvation.

I was just told that we are to wake up 4150am as we are off to another skeet for the morning liturgy. It also happens to be my name day again on the old calendar.