This photo is part of a series that resulted from an immersive 4-day journey to the Mount Athos peninsula in northeastern Greece. The area is an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism, and is home to over 2,000 monks from around the world. My aim was to explore the monastic mindset as exemplified by monks that have inhabited the area for over 1,200 years.

Only men are allowed in the peninsula. The monks live a life of austerity, sever family ties, and shun technology. The monks spend the bulk of their days in prayer, but also adopt a craft or skill in order to contribute to the broader community. This may be by cultivating herbs, keeping bees, painting and carving religious icons, transcribing scriptures, or working in the kitchens.

Many monasteries contain the bones of monks that have died, sometimes kept in outdoor shacks. Names are inscribed on the skulls of monks from years past. A monk’s quizzical bemusement at my fascination with these ‘skull libraries’ underscored just how differently we viewed the idea of mortality.