The work A Mountain Afar (work in progress) investigates the autonomous theocratic monastic state of Mount Athos. Mount Athos is situated on a 45km-long peninsula of the same name in Greece. On Mount Athos, about 2000 Eastern Orthodox monks, the so-called Athonites, live in 20 monasteries and monastic villages, cut off from the rest of the world. Given the peninsula’s location within EU territory, and the presence of monasteries from several countries, including Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia, the peninsula has proved to be a geopolitical field of influence over the years. Mount Athos was founded during the Byzantine Empire and has been a theocracy for 1000 years with its own regulations and laws. The most notable law is the Avaton, which prohibits women from entering Athos.
A Mountain Afar is a three-channel filmic and musical work about Mount Athos’ monastic ideal in relation to politics, power and gender. Photography, taken from a ship following the border line at sea, reflects the impossibility to enter Athos for persons other than men. Myth and legend reveal Mount Athos’ Roman and Byzantine origins, its patriarchal values and theocratic system of power. As a counter voice, the hymn O Vasilevs tis doxis Christos sheds light on the hidden and forgotten musical oeuvre of the Byzantine nun, feminist and earliest known female composer Kassia.

The work A Mountain Afar is generously supported by CBK Rotterdam and Cultuurfonds, Amsterdam.