Prophets of the Kingdom in the World
By: His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Perhaps the greatest contribution of the monastic way in our contemporary world is its prophetic presence in an age of confusion or ignorance, when people tend to overlook the spiritual dimension of the world. “A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough” (Gal. 5:9). By purifying their own souls, monastics seek to purify the soul of every person as well as the soul of the world. The prayer of monastics sustains the whole world (Gen 18:23-33). Their primarily spiritual importance, therefore, becomes social, moral, and even environmental. In the fourth century, Evagrius of ...
Forgiveness
By St. Nikolai VelimirovichThat God may forgive us, let us forgive men. We are all on this earth as temporary guests. ... Prolonged fasting and prayer is in vain Without forgiveness and true mercy. God is the true Physician; sins are leprosy. Whomever God cleanses, God also glorifies. Every merciful act of men, God rewards with mercy. He who returns sin with sin perishes without mercy. Pus is not cleansed by pus from infected wounds, Neither is the darkness of the dungeon dispelled by darkness, But pure balm heals the festering wound, And light disperses the darkness of the dungeon. To the seriously wounded, mercy is like a balm; As if seeing a ...
What to do During Great Lent
Today the Church begins the season of Great Lent. For the past few weeks we have been preparing for this time of the year and now it is upon us. What are you going to do during this season to make it different than any other time of the year? Our life is supposed to be different during this time of year. We should not be going out to eat or to parties nor should we be going to see movies. This is a penitential time of the year and we “do not feast when we fast.” Here are some suggestions of ...
Monastic Practice ~ Work
As I have written before, the monastic life is like a three legged stool. One of those legs is prayer, the other is divine reading and the third, and the subject of this essay, is work. Monastic work is very different from the work we might perform in the secular world as it focus is not on us but on the other. Our work is an expression of our love, not the love of work or the love of money, but the love of the community and of the other. Self-forgetful service to the community is a movement out of me ...
Monastic Practice
Our Core Monastic Commitment is embodied in six monastic practices: Prayer – The heart of our monastic life is regular and frequent conversation with God. This takes two main forms: a) public, liturgical prayer in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the Liturgy of the Hours, and b) private resting in God in Christian contemplation. Lectio Divina and Study – In conformity with ancient monastic practice, we practice the prayerful and meditative reading of Sacred Scripture. In addition, we also nourish our hearts and minds by ongoing study in sacred and secular areas of learning. Silence – The attentive listening to God in our ...
Interior Life
The Fourth Step of HumilityThe fourth step of humility is that in this obedience, under difficult, unfavorable,...
The Third Step of Humility
The third step of humility is that a man submits to his superior in all obedience...
The Second Step of Humility
The second step of humility is that a man loves not his own will nor takes pleasure...
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Latest News
What to do During Great Lent
Today the Church begins the season of Great Lent. For the past few weeks we have...
Orthodox Church Founds a Monastery
Home for prayer, contemplation and work From: Worcester Times and Gazette SOUTHBRIDGE...
Monastery Founded
On Sunday, June 20th the parish community of St. Michael Orthodox Christian Church...
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Monastic Life
Prophets of the Kingdom in the World
By: His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Perhaps the greatest contribution of the monastic way in our contemporary world is its prophetic presence in an age of confusion or ignorance, when people tend to overlook the spiritual dimension of the world. “A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough” (Gal. 5:9). By purifying their own... [Read more of this review]
The Fourth Step of Humility
The fourth step of humility is that in this obedience, under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions, his heart quietly embraces suffering and endures it without weakening or seeking escape. Rule of St. Benedict The practice of the fourth step of humility, according to Saint Benedict, is very demanding and painful. It is only in light... [Read more of this review]
The Third Step of Humility
The third step of humility is that a man submits to his superior in all obedience for the love of God, imitating the Lord of whom the Apostle says: “He became obedient to the point of death.” (Phil 2:8) Rule of St. Benedict The mystery of monastic obedience, and its only justification, is based on Jesus’ submission to his... [Read more of this review]
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