'Incubation'

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Dear All,

I found the following on the Wikipedia:


Incubation also refers to the religious practice of sleeping in a sacred area with the intention of experiencing a divinely-inspired dream or cure. Incubation was practised by members of the cult of Asclepius and votive offerings found at his ritual centres at Epidaurus, Pergamum and Rome detail the perceived effectiveness of the method . Incubation was adopted by certain Christian sects and is still used in a few Greek monasteries.

Has anyone heard of the use of this method in monasteries? Are they referring to Orthodox monasteries, or to some sort of sect? I would very much like to hear about it!

In Christ
Byron

[M A Jackson-Roberts]

Dear Byron,

I know that in the medieval ruins of Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, UK, (Cistercian) there is a stone shelf underneath the enclosure in the abbey church that once held the relics of St William of York. Monks used to lie there overnight to pray for deliverance from afflictions of spirit, mind, or body.

anchorite

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Dear M A Jackson-Roberts

Strangely enough, I've been to Rievaulx Abbey a couple of times. It's a most beautiful archeological site, very inspiring. I didn't know about the enclosure and the relics of St William of York, and certainly hadn't heard of the monastic tradition you mention, so thank you very much for pointing it out. I hope I'll go there again sometime, it is a special place in my memory.

I wonder if there are any more forum members who have heard of such "incubation" traditions in monasteries?

In Christ
Byron

[Moses Anthony]

Is this experience anything different from what even we Orthodox term 'pilgrimages' to holy sites.

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Dear James,

Incubation is a religious practice of sleeping in a sacred area with the intention of experiencing a divinely-inspired dream or cure. I was surprised to hear of this occuring in Greek monasteries, particularly with the enjoinders and warnings in our Orthodox faith against most dreams. If indeed it does occur, then maybe people go on pilgrimage to these monasteries. But the experience of pilgrimage itself is something different from incubation. If incubation does take place in a contemporary Orthodox Christian setting, or if it has ceased to occur, but used to historically, I would be very interested to hear from anyone who knows about this...

In Christ
Byron

[Theopesta]

dear Byron and all celesial friends:

i feel the idea of incubation not general rule can occur with any one, I think it is exceptional cases happen to certain people for appointed aims known to God only, and even to those whom happen with them may occur once not more, I do not know this right or not, but I think if we generalized this issue may some people become subject to the effect of external emotions and not seek behind the internal incubation inside the heart when one try to connect deeply with each holy thing.

I will be enjoyed with correction and clearfing comments
thanks, theopesta

[Olympiada]

What do you think all think about sleeping with someone's letter under your pillow? Especially an, uh, archpastor's letter. Could this effect 'spiritual healing'?

Or what about the relics from a blessed one's coffin? Or dirt from the tomb of the Theotokos? Or an icon blessed on the tomb of a saint? On the Holy Mountain? Holy oil from a saint?

Olympiada

[Raphael]

"A Miracle in Serbia"
http://www.kosovo.net/miracle.html

I suppose this is exactly the kind of thing that would be called "Incubation."

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Dear Raphael,

What a gift! I have waited some time to hear examples of incubation in an Orthodox monastic setting. Thank you for posting the account of this miracle in Serbia, which is not only interesting, but also quite useful to those of us who suffer from migraine and tension headache.

I think this is a clear example of healing incubation, though interestingly the pilgrim does not mention a specific dream occurring during his sleep, but a more vague sensation that
As I dozed I could hear things happening in my head, as if taut wires were being moved and loosened. Finding the right words to explain is difficult. But I do know that something happened inside my head.
Once again, many thanks for this. Please let me know if you (or any other forum member) hear of similar incubation experiences which lead to healing, especially where a dream may be involved.

In Christ
Byron