A question

[psaltologion_user]

Apologies if this is the wrong place to post. Im interested in studying chant abroad in greece once I (an american) graduate from high school, likely for a few months to a year before I come back and start college. I have a few questions regarding how I would go about this, here they are:

1. What would the cost of living be? Could I manage if I live frugally?

2. Where exactly should I learn? From whom?

3. I've been chanting for about a year now (and am being taught by my parishes protopsaltis), by then I'll have 3 years of experience. Is that far too little for me to consider studying abroad?

4. How would I support myself while I'm there? Would I have to pick up a job?



Again, I apologize if this is not the right place to ask such questions. If it isn't, please direct me to the right place to ask them.

 

[mmamais]

Hello and we wish you good luck. And blessing from the Holy Cross (today's feast).

1 and 4. You can live frugally but you need some income anyway. Either someone has to pay for your expenses or you may find a job - any job. It is possible for a chanter (psaltis) in Greece to earn a living just by chanting, but you have to be at least a competent chanter. Another thing that comes to my mind is to go to a monastery as a worker, handyman, something like that, so you earn your food, a room to live and perhaps a small income. Plus a lot of chanting for you. I am not connected (so much) to any monastery to give you more precise information, however i know that people do it.

2. In Greece there are thousands of options as regards "where to learn". Did you consider attaining lessons in USA? There are many schools as far as i know and good chanters to stand by their side and learn. In this way you avoid coming to Greece just for that. Unless of course you "feel like you NEED to come to Greece anyway".

3. I believe 3 years is quite a bit of experience. It depends on your ability, and the protopsaltis that teaches you.

 

[psaltologion_user]

Hello and we wish you good luck. And blessing from the Holy Cross (today's feast).

1 and 4. You can live frugally but you need some income anyway. Either someone has to pay for your expenses or you may find a job - any job. It is possible for a chanter (psaltis) in Greece to earn a living just by chanting, but you have to be at least a competent chanter. Another thing that comes to my mind is to go to a monastery as a worker, handyman, something like that, so you earn your food, a room to live and perhaps a small income. Plus a lot of chanting for you. I am not connected (so much) to any monastery to give you more precise information, however i know that people do it.

2. In Greece there are thousands of options as regards "where to learn". Did you consider attaining lessons in USA? There are many schools as far as i know and good chanters to stand by their side and learn. In this way you avoid coming to Greece just for that. Unless of course you "feel like you NEED to come to Greece anyway".

3. I believe 3 years is quite a bit of experience. It depends on your ability, and the protopsaltis that teaches you.

Blessed feast to you too!

Ok, that makes sense. Working as a handyman at a monastery would probably be my best option, and I have no problem living frugally.


Regarding point 2, learning in the USA is something I also plan to do—but if I want to study in Greece, before college is the best time. I wouldn’t be able to go during college, and I’d have to wait a long time afterward.


As for point 3, I’d say my Protopsaltis is very good. I’m still a beginner, but I know the notation and am now focusing on learning hymns and studying modal theory.

Thank you!

 

[domesticus]

You can discuss the situation with the priest from your parish and through your local bishop and probably the Archdiocese, you can obtain a recomendation letter or they can speak for you to a monastery in Mount Athos, to live there for a few months at least. This way your only money problem will be to pay for your tickets and personal expenses.

Also it will be better if you can chant in greek or at least have some knowledge about it.

 

[psaltologion_user]

You can discuss the situation with the priest from your parish and through your local bishop and probably the Archdiocese, you can obtain a recomendation letter or they can speak for you to a monastery in Mount Athos, to live there for a few months at least. This way your only money problem will be to pay for your tickets and personal expenses.

Also it will be better if you can chant in greek or at least have some knowledge about it.

Good advice, im in contact with somebody who has connections with 2 monasteries with mount athos. I think my plab will be to study chant there while working as a handyman for 5 months. The next 5 I will study on the mainland with money ive saved, im just not sure where or whom to study from on the mainland.


Also I can read Greek, just need to learn how to speak it if I plan to reside there for 10 months.

 

[Shota]

im just not sure where or whom to study from on the mainland

Just go to Athos and you'll know an answer to that in 5 months time.

 

[domesticus]

Shota speaks the truth. Go to Mount Athos first, stay there if you can, try to learn anything you can, and then you can plan what to do next. Keep in mind that a place to rent might be expensive nowadays and frugality might not be enough without a substantial capital. You can check online about it. Mount Athos or any other well-known monastery is a good way to follow.

 

[psaltologion_user]

Shota speaks the truth. Go to Mount Athos first, stay there if you can, try to learn anything you can, and then you can plan what to do next. Keep in mind that a place to rent might be expensive nowadays and frugality might not be enough without a substantial capital. You can check online about it. Mount Athos or any other well-known monastery is a good way to follow.

Got it, thanks. I will probably have some money saved from my current job as well.

 

[domesticus]

For Mount Athos it's better to go there from October to May, fewer visitors and tourists and much better to travel through Greece, avoiding the crazy summer months. Also they need workers to harvest the olive trees and during the spring the need people for the fields or workshops.
And you might find cheaper airbnbs in Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki.
Make a good itinerary to ensure smooth passage to the athonite border and check out everything thoroughly. Be advised you will need to spend some money even inside Mount Athos.
Beware the monks follow the Julian Calendar (13 days difference) and measure time differently following a medieval pattern. Check it out and make good use of an AI application like Gemini or Copilot for the planning and obtaining information.

 

[psaltologion_user]

For Mount Athos it's better to go there from October to May, fewer visitors and tourists and much better to travel through Greece, avoiding the crazy summer months. Also they need workers to harvest the olive trees and during the spring the need people for the fields or workshops.
And you might find cheaper airbnbs in Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki.
Make a good itinerary to ensure smooth passage to the athonite border and check out everything thoroughly. Be advised you will need to spend some money even inside Mount Athos.
Beware the monks follow the Julian Calendar (13 days difference) and measure time differently following a medieval pattern. Check it out and make good use of an AI application like Gemini or Copilot for the planning and obtaining information.

My plan was to leave for Greece in august the summer after I graduate High School, so I will probably stay on Athos until December. This is good news, looks like I'll be able to find work there then. I'll make use of AI for planning the amount of money to bring. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Shota]

As an addition to what Domesticus wrote: not all Athos monasteries are equally good at chanting. Some have small brotherhoods and monks there have less time to spend on psaltic studies and training.

 

[domesticus]

A friendly advice. Take care of your belongings all the time through Greece, keep a vigilant eye on your money and papers, there are many pickpockets and many visitors had problems losing their money and passport and phone. Also don't trust easily even in a monastic environment (my personal opinion of course) ...

Good luck and take care

 

[psaltologion_user]

A friendly advice. Take care of your belongings all the time through Greece, keep a vigilant eye on your money and papers, there are many pickpockets and many visitors had problems losing their money and passport and phone. Also don't trust easily even in a monastic environment (my personal opinion of course) ...

Good luck and take care

Thank you for the pracrical advice. God Bless!