Now for the "new" entry about worship...

Today (Tuesday) we took our first hike, about 3 hours' worth, up to the center of the island Tinos.  Beth, I thought of you...  The island is lovely, the Aegean water a Caribbean blue, and the houses whitewashed and gorgeous.  See the photo below!

On our hike we stopped into one of the many chapels that dot the countryside here.  It was an Orthodox chapel; there are also numerous Roman chapels here, too--a remnant from when the Jesuits had a foothold here in the Cyclades and tried to convert everyone to Rome's observance.  It wasn't entirely successful...

First, here is a photo of the Orthodox chapel.  We see the Theotokos (Virgin and child--Mary, the God-bearer) outside the entrance; next, a stylized Chi-Rho symbol outside a Catholic chapel; next, a street in the town where we had lunch; and finally the view of the town in which we are staying.  BTW the chi-rho is a symbol made of the first 2 letters of Christ in the Greek.  And extra points go to Barry for answering what the Filioque clause was in the Nicene Creed (the Roman version we say each Sunday says that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son--Filioque means "and from the Son."  The Orthodox interpretation says the Spirit proceeds only from the Father.  That is one of those issues that it will be great to have cleared up one day when we go across that veil.  That is, if it even matters...

What a day.  And what food we are having.  The salads are amazing--dressed only with fine olive oil.  Serve with a hunk of feta and it's as good as it gets.