Looking through the gap between two towering rocks, the town of Kalambaka glitters under the golden light of sunrise. Meteora is famous for one of the most prominent complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries built on the top of the rocks. What captivated me most was the view of the town below. People are waking up for breakfasts and work, the distant train tracks quiet and awaiting for restoration work. It is a scene full of life, vibrant and full of energy. It seems to me that heaven is up there above; it exists here on earth.

I photographed the sunset in Meteora and returned early the next morning to capture the sunrise. While the monasteries atop the rocks are undeniably stunning, I found myself drawn more to the scenery below. The juxtaposition of the towering rocks and the bustling town beneath perfectly conveys the interplay between the secular and the sacred.