What is the spiritual meaning of Christ’s cave to us?

It is amazing that the entrance of the uncreated, eternal God occurred within time and in His created world, in complete secrecy, in complete silence, and in such humble circumstances. Even from His birth, Christ showed us the fullness of His humility.
The almighty God was born in a cave, since all available rooms were filled that night. Though the Virgin Mary was about to give birth, no one had compassion on her. Hence even man, whom the Lord himself had created, neglected to show mercy to His Holy Mother.
Through his birth, God demonstrated to us that a new world was born with the Nativity of Christ. He would fulfill the old Mosaic Law, proclaim the new Law of the Holy gospels and seal it through His death and resurrection.
In these photos, various ascetical caves are depicted from the eremitic Romanian Skete of Kalamitsi, near Vatopaidi. Drag with the mouse or click ‘Next’ and ‘Show Description’ to see all the photos and read the description for each photo.

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A hermit cave. The monks used the natural configuration of the environment and builded around small walls to protect from wind, rain and cold.

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Inside of the small church at Kalamitsi, Vatopaidi. The dimensions are pretty small, one cannot stand still inside.

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A group photo with some monks from Vatopaidi near to one of the found caves. It was quite difficult to reach there, the place is well hidden in the forest.

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Inside of a deep cave used by reclused monks at Kalamitsi near Vatopaidi. It is vell hidden behind the small chuch which was in a front chamber in the same cave.

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Praying inside of a cell. Each cell had small shelves for icons and other small things.

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At the entrance of one of the most well built cells. On the right, the entrance to the deep cave used by the reclused monk(s).

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Entering in one of the main sites. A giant rock drown in the dense forest which hides underneath a cave big enough for 3-4 hermits to live. At least one of them was a recluse.

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Some buildings near the caves, most probably a guest house or warehouse. Everything is very small.

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The small church from outside. In the extreme right is to be seen the semicircular shape of the what was the Holy Altar. Only the priest was able to stand still due of the nature of the ceiling.

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Inside of a cell. On the left an entrance/window. In center, the remnants of a stove. Right: small shelves.

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The external wall. A door was transformed in a window. The hermits tried to avoid the contact with the others as much as they could in order to have more time to pray.

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The small stove in one of the caves at Kalamitsi. It was a common habit for Romanian and Russian heremits to lay down on these stoves in order to get warm in the cold night.

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A glimpse from above on one of the main caves. This was the first one which was discovered. Around it were other ones.

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Outside of one of the main huts discovered. The documents speak about 10 (or more) huts. Till now only three huts were discovered. A "hut" is a complex of divided rooms with various purposes inside of one or more caves which are close one to another.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

A hermit cave. The monks used the natural configuration of the environment and builded around small walls to protect from wind, rain and cold.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Inside of the small church at Kalamitsi, Vatopaidi. The dimensions are pretty small, one cannot stand still inside.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

A group photo with some monks from Vatopaidi near to one of the found caves. It was quite difficult to reach there, the place is well hidden in the forest.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Inside of a deep cave used by reclused monks at Kalamitsi near Vatopaidi. It is vell hidden behind the small chuch which was in a front chamber in the same cave.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Praying inside of a cell. Each cell had small shelves for icons and other small things.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

At the entrance of one of the most well built cells. On the right, the entrance to the deep cave used by the reclused monk(s).

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Entering in one of the main sites. A giant rock drown in the dense forest which hides underneath a cave big enough for 3-4 hermits to live. At least one of them was a recluse.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Some buildings near the caves, most probably a guest house or warehouse. Everything is very small.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

The small church from outside. In the extreme right is to be seen the semicircular shape of the what was the Holy Altar. Only the priest was able to stand still due of the nature of the ceiling.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Inside of a cell. On the left an entrance/window. In center, the remnants of a stove. Right: small shelves.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

The external wall. A door was transformed in a window. The hermits tried to avoid the contact with the others as much as they could in order to have more time to pray.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

The small stove in one of the caves at Kalamitsi. It was a common habit for Romanian and Russian heremits to lay down on these stoves in order to get warm in the cold night.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

A glimpse from above on one of the main caves. This was the first one which was discovered. Around it were other ones.

SHOW DESCRIPTION

Outside of one of the main huts discovered. The documents speak about 10 (or more) huts. Till now only three huts were discovered. A "hut" is a complex of divided rooms with various purposes inside of one or more caves which are close one to another.