Celebrations that are to mark the 130th anniversary of establishing the"St. Kliment Ohridski” University in Sofa have started with a photo exhibition dedicated to Mount Athos.Author of the photos is Dimitris Louzikiotis(Greece), who has captured in his lens details of space deprived of human presence, in which attention is focused on open or closed doors and windows.

Just like the eyes are a mirror of the soul, windows and doors reflect the soul of buildings. On Mount Athos, life flows away from human vanity, but there are decorations and art there, too.

"The monks of Mount Athos make doors and windows large, painted, decorated and carved," the photographer says. “It looks like an encouragement to cultivate our souls and become better people, better citizens and understand each other in a better way."

Dimitris Louzikiotis was born in Halkidiki, in the village of Stratoniki, from which a view towards Mount Athos is revealed. At the age of 12 he won a camera from a magazine and started shooting. He then studied photography and started a career in the field of graphic design and advertising. But what he loves is non-commercial art photography. Among his favorite themes are fire dancing, brewing rakiya in family distilleries and other unique experiences that inspire him to write photo stories.

Initiator of the project is Prof. Aksinia Dzhurova, former head of the "Prof. Ivan Dujchev" Center for Slavonic-Byzantine Studies.As an art historian, Prof. Dzhurova was captivated by the big number of architectural styles used by Athos builders. A visitor to Mount Athos can see Neo-Baroque, Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Classical, and Post-Byzantine style, but there is certain continuity between masters. The photos displayed in the Sofia University show mainly the so-called capital of Mount Athos - Karyes. In this administrative center, representatives of the 20 monasteries that operate on Mount Athos meet twice a week, as they have done for centuries. It is a curious fact that quite a few women are interested in the photo exhibition as it offers thema glimpse into the forbidden for them world of the Zograf Monastery, the Hilandar Monastery and the Monastery of Megisti Lavra.

The appearance of photography in Mount Athos is linked to the pilgrimage mission of Russian historian Piotr Sevastianov in the sixth decade of the 19th century. It was at that time when the first photos were taken, archaeologist Nikolaos Merdzimekis of the Greek Ministry of Culture says. “Since then, photographic laboratories have been set up near the monasteries and the strictly arranged worldof Mount Athosbecame available to people who for some reason can not reach the mysterious life of the secluded space. The photographs of Louzikiotis are made with great attention and the lens focuses on the details that revealthe sophisticated and zealous work of stone and wood carvers and blacksmiths. Some of the buildings on the photos no longer exist, but thanks to photographers such as Dimitris Louzikiotisthey will not be forgotten."

The exhibition can be seen by February 23rd.

English; Alexander Markov