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Caption: _______ FRANCE abbaye de fleury
Caption: It had me at Fleury.
Abbaye de Fleury is a very special place for me. I’m not religious, but I find myself at this historic church every time I visit France. My brother introduced me to it upon my first visit to his town, minutes away.
Founded in 640 (yes you read that correctly), this Benedictine monastery is incredibly peaceful and humbling…it captivates me. I’m sharing excerpts from my travel journal of my first experience...
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Caption: "we find ourselves in front of a breathtaking stone structure..."
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Caption: "we enter...it's bone-chilling cold, and we seem to be alone.
we stand in awe."
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Caption: "and then...the sound of chanting.
gregorian chanting.
the most heavenly sound."
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Caption: "I walk silently + swiftly towards the sound, not sure of its origin. I find myself outside of the crypt below the alter, with ancient doors, closed to the public. I stand there frozen, inexplicably crying."
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Caption: "The chanting stops, and the doors open. I step backwards and stand against the cold stone walls. A single line of robed men - monks, exit the crypt in front of me. They seem as if they're floating, completely silent and still. Then, in unison, they flip up their hoods, bow their heads, and exit the abbey."
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Caption: Ever since that first experience, I've returned four times to the abbey, but haven't been able to witness the chanting again. I treasure the memory, and it will remain one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. Truly moving.
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Caption: @fleurishing
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