Crossways: A Journey on Mount Athos

by Marcus Campbell

For two weeks in July 1987, Marcus Campbell kept a journal as he walked about Mount Athos, known as The Holy Mountain, in Greece, searching for the place in which to spend the rest of his days. He hoped to meet, in a monastery, cave or hut in the wilderness a particular man, a geronda (elder) or pnevmatikos (‘spirit-filled’ guide) to whom he could entrust himself, body
and soul.
This vivid account, including the author’s journal record of his travels, was intended to provide a picture of Mount Athos as he found it, for family and friends, especially women friends, who could never visit it themselves. A highlight of the book is the author’s encounter with the Elder Paisios (1924-94) who in 2015 was canonized a saint of the Greek Orthodox Church.

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2019

About the author

I was born in New Zealand in 1951. Studied English literature and drama, set design and directing, then pursued a career in theatre. My plays have been performed in Auckland, Seattle, Juneau and New York, and selected for the NZ National Playwright's Workshop (1983). A Commonwealth Scholarship (1977) from the English government allowed me to study directing for two years in Canada. I have been a semi-finalist in the Katherine Mansfield short story competition, awarded the Frank Sargeson Award (1981) and been published in New Zealand Short Stories (1983) Oxford University Press. A Blue Forest is my first novel.