Fire in the Monastery of Karakalou
Frank Horlbeck awoke at midnight to the sound of lightning striking the southeast wing of Karakalou. The following morning he captured the smoke rising from the rubble. The walls of the monastic enclosure appear impenetrable from the outside, but their wooden structure makes them vulnerable to fire. The monastery is centered around the church, shown here in the foreground with a tall dome, while the guest house, refectory, and monastic cells for sleeping and solitary prayer line the perimeter wall. The cenobitic monastery is structured to allow Monks to spend time in solitary prayer, while also sharing the common liturgy and labor within a larger community.