What should I do to prepare?

[Geoffrey Miller]

Currently, I am seventeen years old, but already I feel that I am called to be a monk. My parents won't let me begin the catechumenate of the Orthodox Church until my eighteenth birthday. They are both Protestants.

However, I would like to start preparing myself for the monastic life, even though I probably won't be able to become a Novice until sometime after my twenty-fifth birthday. This is a long time to wait before I flee from the world to the safety of a monastery, and I know that the evil one will place many temptations in my way to prevent me from fulfilling what I was created for--to Love God. So please, tell me what to expect and provide me with guidance and direction so that I may come to true repentance, even if it takes a lifetime to do so.

Also, can any of you recomend a good prayer rule for an absolute beginner leading a very hectic life?

God bless you all.

[Irene]

Dear Geoffrey, some reading for you to go on with until one of the Fathers has time to answer your query.

This quote from a very important Saint "..... one does not have to do many prayers. It is better to perform a small number of prayers properly than to hurry through a large number of prayers, because it is difficult to maintain the heat of prayerful zeal when they are performed to excess." ..... by St Theophan the Recluse, link to article (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/prayrule.aspx)

Other links:-
"An Aid to Prayer Some Thoughts on the Use of a Prayer Book" (http://www.roca.org/oa/107/107g.htm)
List of suggested prayer books (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/prayerbks.aspx)
Online Orthodox Prayer Book (http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/prayerbook/main.htm)
Article on "Inner Peace" (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/peace.aspx)
Article "On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians in General
by St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain"
"On the Necessity of Constant Prayer for all Christians in General (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/continualprayer.aspx)

[Charalambos Andrew Geo]

Do you by any chance have a spiritual father, if so speak to him if not pray and God will provide the one just right for you, if you are in the uk then you can visit the monastery of St John the Baptist in Tolleshunt knights in Tiptree Colchester which is in Essex, i could be wrong about the location, also a brilliant book is St Silouan the athonite by Fr Sophroni.

In the mean time, I pray that God will grant you to fulfill the 1st commandment, are you orthodox yet, if not then i pray that God grants you a blessed baptism and if you are then God grant you everything you need, i myself am a student at uni, if you want to contact me privately i am more than happy to keep in touch.

with love in Christ
Charalambos

[Geoffrey Miller]

Unfortunately, I have no spiritual Father that can sit down and talk to me one on one right now. I'm not Orthodox yet, and my parents have forbidden me from even asking to join the Church for another year. I'm desparate, searching for spiritual nourishment anywhere I can get it, even from unknown people on an Internet forum. I'm corresponding online with a priest and a monk, but other than that, there is no one to guide me.

[Owen Jones]

Don't be in such an all fired hurry. You are on the right track. You are doing all the right things. Don't worry.

[Geoffrey Miller]

Thank you for your reassurance Owen, it is good to know that I'm doing the right thing. Still, I often have doubts that I'm doing enough for God. I think of the Saints, some of which ran away from home at my age to join the Church against their family's wishes. I ask myself, why can't I do this as well? But then I remember that I'm disabled and in a wheelchair, and cannot physically run away. What I am doing now is my version of fleeing for safety, and is in reality the only thing I can do at this point in time. My burning desire right now is to learn how to pray and get some spiritual guidance intended for an absolute beginner who hopes to enter a monastery one day and devote the entirety of his life to God.

May God bless you all for your advice so far.

[Elizabeth Riggs]

Dear Geoffrey -

The Evil One can plant that feeling that you are not doing enough, also - just to send you into despondency. A Monastery is NOT a place of safety - it is place of intense spiritual warfare. Monks have told me that during Holy Week they could actually SEE demons dancing out in the garden! So be wary of the idea that you will be "safe" there - some of the most intense temptations and attacks by the Evil One occur in Monasteries.

At seventeen you are very young - although there have been many in other years who have made similar life-changing choices. For now, prepare yourself for the kind of work that will benefit not only you in the world but a monastery. Look at what the monasteries you are familiar with do to support themselves, then look to skills that will help them. Languages are always helpful - study Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavonic so you can assist with translations. Study English and writing - so you can assist with editing and writing. Study computers and business so you can assist with the business end of endeavors. Study logistics, inventory and supply so you can help with maintaining their store and supplies and orders. You get the idea. These kinds of skills will be invaluable to a monastery that maintains a store or does ancient document translations, or does writing. Not to mention, what if you or the monks find you not suited to monastic life after all? You will need skills to help you earn a living in the lay world. If you are in the UK, there is the Monastery of Saint Andrew the First Called in Manchester that does much translation of ancient Syriac and Greek Fathers of the Church. In order to translate, you need not only excellent language skills in Syriac or Greek or whatever, but excellent English skills in order to maintain the poetry of what is translated. That's just one example. Monasteries here in the US have bookstores and must track their inventories, orders, finances, etc. Others are involved in things as diverse as dog breeding and training or candle making. You begin to see why I urge you to get skills that will help you support the monastery. Orthodox Monasteries do not rely on contributions. They live the admonition of St. Paul about earning their own living and not being dependent on charity.

Seek a spiritual father as soon as you are 18 and are allowed to make the decision to convert. You will be in the Catechumenate for about a year after that in most cases, no matter how much you study it isn't the same as "living" the Faith, so you need to "live" the Faith for at least a year. Then you should, while you are in college, visit monasteries on your vacations. Get to know the monks in 2 or 3 different monasteries. Maintain a correspondence with one or two monks from each monastery between visits. Examine their lives closely - both their strengths and their weaknesses. You need to go into this with your eyes open. If possible, take a semester and spend it on Mt. Athos, visiting several of the monasteries there and spending the bulk of the time at one or two of them. all this will help you make the final decision.

You will be in my prayers
With Love in Christ,
Elizabeth, the sinner
and Perennial Student

[Geoffrey Miller]

"Monks have told me that during Holy Week they could actually SEE demons dancing out in the garden! So be wary of the idea that you will be "safe" there - some of the most intense temptations and attacks by the Evil One occur in Monasteries." -- Elizabeth

As long as God is with me, and Christ resides in my heart, why should I fear apparitions such as those? Only when I combat evil do I feel the fullness of the safety granted by the Holy Spirit. The only thing to fear in the world is God himself. How should intense spiritual combat make monasteries dangerous? Fortresses are the safest places to be in times of war, yet the greatest battles are waged against them. That's why I want to become a monk; to trample evil under the foot of perfect love.

[Trudy]

Geoffrey,

There is a book by Anthony Bloom called "Beginning to Pray." That may be a good read. In the meantime, check out the link Irene has posted for the on-line Orthodox Prayer book. It is general practice to read the Morning Prayers once you get up. And the Evening Prayers before you go to bed. Start simple and short. Irene makes a good point by including the quote from St. Theophan the Recluse about taking little prayers to start. I know it can get frustrating quickly by trying to do too much right out of the gate. I know 'cause I did it! Just remember baby steps.

Right now, because you are 17, you are under your parent's jurisdiction. And because it sounds like you are a faithful young man, you must keep in mind to obey the commandment set by God to honor your mother and father. That will be hard right now, but is the gift God has given you on the path to holiness. Learn to obey that now, and it will help you down the road. So you must obey their request. The Orthodox Church isn't going anywhere. It's been around for 2000 years, it will be around for 2000 more. Patience is the hardest virtue to learn.

Keep writing to Monachos. And remember this wonderful piece of wisdom given to me by a blessed monk (may his memory be eternal): Remember - God exists and God loves you.

Love in Christ, Athanasia

[Ken McRae]

Hi Geoffrey ~

Here's some ways to prepare for monastic life :~

01 - Practice Self-Denial and Simplicity of Life

Stop acquiring things and learn daily to do with less, until gradually you're able to forsake the world entirely, for the holy Thebaid of the Fathers. Simplify, simplify, simplify! Try to uncomplicate your daily life, in the midst of the world, that gradually by degrees your thoughts are less and less disquieted about them. Try not to assert your will, especially where it is most natural and easy for you to do so, and a bad habit. It is on those occasions that your will must be particularly exercised unto self-denial. Practice simplicity in everything, and in your thoughts especially. Do not give in to curiosities. Pictures of the Cell of Blessed Seraphim Rose (http://users.sisqtel.net/williams/pics-cell.html)

A) St. Peter on practing sobriety in mind and body

=> "Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you (1 Pet. 1:13)."
=> "The end of all things (or a new beginning) is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer (1 Pet. 4:7)."
=> "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8)."

=> apart from your school studies, do not give your thoughts over to worldly vanieties: "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity (Eccles 12:8)." And: "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man (Eccles 12:13)." Live each day in the fear of God and continual meditation upon His law!!

=> "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night (Psalm 1:1-2)

In accord with the life of sobriety:-

B) eat, drink, sleep and talk less by degrees
C) redeem the time for exercise unto godliness
D) avoid vain amusements and distractions
E) practice stillness in mind and body
F) dress moderately and modestly

02 - Live by a Rule of Prayer.

* follow the Church's rule of prayer
* awake to prayer early before sunrise
* retire to prayer as early as possible
* keep the midnight vigil with fasting,
* and Psalm Chanting and Sacred Hymns

03 - Meditate Much on the Topics of:-

* the Love of God in the Passion of Christ =>>

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk (http://www.roca.org/OA/6/6e.htm) counsels us to:-

"Meditate on the suffering of Christ, the magnitude of Whose love and suffering surpass our understanding."

St. Paul teaches likewise, in the following texts:-

=> "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2)."

=> "Let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Gal. 6:17)."

=> "I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church (Col. 1:23-24)."

And the Letter to the Hebrews says:-

"It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." ( Heb. 2:9-10 )

From these words of the saintly author of Hebrews, we may see the value of meditating on the Passion of Christ. It behoves us, who would participate in His mystical perfection, to think much upon those sufferings by which He himself was made perfect; that we might never forget the degree of suffering unto which we're all called, who honestly desire to acquire the likeness of Christ.


So, again, meditate daily on:-

* Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell ...

* the Emptiness of Sin and Fullness of Grace ...

* the humility and love of Christ as witnessed in his obedience unto death:-

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:5-8)

Insofar as the monastic habit is a type or form of obedience unto death, let this mind of Christ be in you always!!


04 - Prepare to Make a Good General Confession.

* catalogue all actual sins for confession
* reflect much upon your particular sins and their exceeding sinfulness:-

"But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful (Romans 7:13)."

05 - Confess to Elder Ephraim.

* he can help you make a good confession
* he's a living link to the holy fathers and ...
* he can discern your monastic calling ...

06 - Wait Upon the Lord.

=>> Confusion is not of God, so move slowly, in gradual steps, with much carefullness. While waiting upon the Lord, occupy your self in as much reading as your prayer rule will permit, without interior disturbance and deviation.

A Longer List of Shorter Readings:-

01 - The Restoration of the Orthodox Way of Life (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/restoration.aspx)

02 - Forming the Soul - Spirit, Soul and Body (http://www.roca.org/OA/19/19f.htm)

03 - Raising the Mind, Warming the Heart (http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/rose_raising.aspx)

04 - On Which Church to Attend, and the 'Unseen Warfare' (http://www.roca.org/OA/123/123e.htm)

"Still before the appearance of the declaration of Metropolitan Sergei that very summer of 1927, Elder Nektary of Optina, in a conversation with visiting Professors Kamarovich and Anichkov, called Metropolitan Sergei an innovator. And when it was objected that the latter had repented, the elder answered, "Yes, he repented, but the poison is still imbedded inside him." To his spiritual children, the Elder Nektary used to say, "To the Red Church, do not go." The first citation is taken from the book by I. M. Kontzevich, The Optina Desert and Its Time (p. 546)." Elder Nektary on the Moscow Patriarchate (http://www.monasterypress.com/martyropinions.html)

05 - On How to Enter into Communion with the Lord (http://www.roca.org/OA/146/146c.htm)

06 - On How Nature and Grace Differ (http://www.roca.org/OA/37/37f.htm)

07 - On the Christian Life (http://www.roca.org/OA/82/82c.htm)

08 - The Strait and Narrow Way (http://www.roca.org/OA/155-156/155b.htm)

09 - How the Enemy Tries to Divert the Beginner from the True Path (http://www.roca.org/OA/42/42h.htm)

10 - Prayer of the Heart: the Duty of Those Living in the World (http://www.roca.org/OA/87/87f.htm)

11 - Attuning Yourself to the Spiritual Life (http://www.roca.org/OA/24/24b.htm)

12 - On Correcting the Heart - Part I (http://www.roca.org/OA/75/75b.htm)and Part II (http://www.roca.org/OA/72/72b.htm)

13 - What is “Prelest”? (http://www.roca.org/OA/66-68/66n.htm)

14 - A Rule of Attention to Oneself (http://www.roca.org/OA/28/28d.htm)

15 - Conscience: The Voice of God in Man - Part I (http://www.roca.org/OA/83/83b.htm)and Part II (http://www.roca.org/OA/84-85/84k.htm)

16 - Preserving Inner Contemplation and Remembrance of God (http://www.roca.org/OA/102/102d.htm)

17 - Of the Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven (http://www.roca.org/OA/35/35b.htm)

18 - Read the Scriptures (http://www.roca.org/OA/66-68/66s.htm)

19 - Narrow is the Way (http://www.roca.org/OA/163-164/163c.htm)

20 - Into the Desert (http://www.roca.org/OA/112/112b.htm)

21 - Pray Without Ceasing (http://www.roca.org/OA/5/5b.htm)

22 - On the Unseen Warfare (http://www.roca.org/OA/5/5d.htm)

23 - A Short Road to Perfection (http://www.newmanreader.org/works/meditations/meditations8.html#shortroad)

24 - Counsels to Christians Living in the World (http://www.roca.org/OA/102/102c.htm)

25 - An Athonite Monk Counsels Youth (http://www.roca.org/OA/95/95m.htm)

26 - Counsels for a Spiritual Life (http://www.roca.org/OA/80/80b.htm)

27 - Towards a Fruitful Spiritual Life (http://www.roca.org/OA/7/7b.htm)

28 - The Young Elder Schema-Archimandrite Ambrose (http://www.roca.org/OA/133/133d.htm)

29 - Optina’s Elders: “Instructors of Monks and Conversers with Angels” (http://www.apostle1.com/orthinfo/Optina%27s%20Elders%20Instructors%20of%20Monks%20a nd%20Conversers%20with%20Angels1.htm#Hieroschemamo nk%20Nektary)

30 - Elder Nektary of Optina (http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/nektary_e.htm)

31 - Paul (Levashov) Hieromartyr Of Gomel And Those With Him (http://www.orthodox.net/russiannm/paul-levashov-hieromartyr-of-gomel-and-those-with-him.html)

32 - Sayings of the Fathers (http://www.sthermans.ca/sayings.html)

33 - End of the World (http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/readings/end/)


(Message edited by theophilus on 24 January, 2005)

[Geoffrey Miller]

I'll try my best to do as much of that as I can.

[Geoffrey Miller]

I'll check it out with a priest first though. This looks too streneous for a beginner, and I might become discouraged if I try to do all of it.

[Ken McRae]

"I'll check it out with a priest first though. This looks too streneous for a beginner, and I might become discouraged if I try to do all of it." - Geoffrey

That's very wise Geoffrey. And it shows that you are thoughtful and reflective about the journey ahead. That bodes well. By all means, clear it with a priest first.

I should add that this advice was given with the "long-term" in mind, just in case your stay in the world is longer than you hope or anticipate. It was'nt intended to be strictly followed to the letter, over-night, so-to-speak. I'm sorry if that was the impression I gave.

Take little steps in the beginning, and only slowly, or very gradually orient your whole mind and body toward the crucified life in Christ.

[Marie-Duquette]

Goeffrey,

Praised be God! Christ is in our midst! and always will be!

I rejoice at your questioning, and especially at your sense of discernment concerning your response to Theophilus' longgggg instructions for your preparation for Monasticism. All the responses you received were certainly done with love and concern for you, and for your preparation for Monasticis.

Thank God that you were able to see that all that was put here is "much too strenuous for you, a beginner"

I believe that you will be lead by the inner indwelling Holy Spirit, step by step towards the goal that has been planted into your soul: going to a Monastery and becoming a Monastic.

Books and readings can be wonderful! But books do not make a monk! Books are tools for helping to discern and to acquire knowledge. But, in my own personal experience, I believe that to continue to prepare and to discern your Monastic Vocation will take time. And, in the meantime, you are to live your life daily as the Lord God has providentially deemed it so.

You are yet a teenager, going to school, living with your parents and still under their roof. That is your present state of life. Accepting your state of life in love and obedience will be much more profitable to you at this time of discernment.

Preparation demands a lot of inner work, as St. John the Baptist invited his disciples with fiery words in the Gospel: "Prepare the Way of the Lord, make straight His Paths, etc" Repent, pray, read the Gospels. they contain a wealth of guidance for all Christians, Monks and Nuns included.
Pray each day, as you are able! and read lives of the Saints. They are certainly mentors and images of Holiness, pointing the way to some extent to each of us in our particular life styles.

When I was a teenager. There is nothing more that I desired than to be a Monastic. I had in a sense "fallen in love with our Lord Jesus Christ" Preparation was done by doing my small part in response to the inner call that I experienced.

At 13 after my Confirmation -- I was a RC -- I attended daily Liturgy, prayed the Rosary and read the lives of the Saints and Martyrs, while living my life as a student, a family member, while hoping beyond all Hope that my Vocation would open doors to Monastic life for me. And, it did! I am thankful to God for the Guidance that was given me at that time from People, my priest and confessor, my parents, the Nuns at school, but especially from the Holy Spirit who is
ultimately the inner Guide and Light of our soulsl

May The Lord God continue to lead you in Hope, one step at a time! And you will be given the courage, strength and determination to Follow Christ in the Monastic life.

Be very careful about despondency and discouragement. You are young! Believe that you are guided each day by Christ Jesus Himself.

Hope that these words will be an encouragement for you in your Quest for Christ in Monasticism.

with love, prayers, blessings,

marie_duquette

[Geoffrey Miller]

I got with a priest. He recommended a fifteen minute prayer rule for now, and I agree with him. I've also got a prayer book, so I'm in good shape at this point in time.

Thank you for your help.

[Irene]

That's excellent Geoffrey, I am happy for you.

Irene

[Charalambos Andrew Geo]

How are you Geoffrey,

I thought i might add that i know a nun who is inspirational, she has a lot of love and she is in a wheel chair but it does not stop her from from what i can tell a vessel of love. I visit a monastery in the UK St John the Baptist where my spiritual fr is, if you want i can tell him of you circumstances and ask him to pray for you, can i ask you also to pray to God for me that i become repentant, humble, patient and love God and the whole of Adam past present and future, and that i be a good student at this moment in time.

With love in Christ
Charalambos

[Geoffrey Miller]

Yes, please do that for me Charalambos.

[nurse-aid]

Old vessel and ripped, not ready to hold You and weep…
Not even cry when felt, ignorant, cold, empty, forget…
Forget and busy, with earthly deed, wake me up, o Lord!
Let me song of Your present to sing! Sing and weep,
see and regret, for fooling myself, being an empty net!
Imagining fullness of my vessel to be, being tricked and
lost, in the midst of my own holocaust…
Let me You to partake, for my blind eyes to heal,
for my pride to feel, hate it and no more being ill…
For the Joy of Yours, and not mine, to fell…
Carry on my cross, singing song of Your Will!
For my vessel new and strong become,
To partake You in and able to hold on!

[Kosmas Damianides]

Dear Geoffrey,

It was indeed very moving to hear that you wish to become an Orthodox Christian and even more moving to hear that you wish to renounce yourself lift up your cross and be joined to the spiritual world as an earthly angel -- obedient to God.

I wish you all the best; please pray for me.

Kosmas

[Anthony]

I have a couple of questions, probably confused and maybe plain stupid, but they have been bugging me for a while and I would be helped by any comments.

The first arises from Elizabeth Riggs' very helpful post earlier in this thread (which is why I have attached it here). One often reads that becoming a monk is to take on a more difficult level of spiritual warfare and stricter standards of judgement. The message (not that I am attributing this to Mrs Riggs) might seem to be that people who are living a bad Christian life in the world should not even think about it. How does this fit in, though, with the image of the monastery as a hospital, where "it is not the healthy that need a physician, but the sick"? Personally I would run a mile from the first picture of monasticism; if I went there it would be simply to give myself a fighting chance of "passing the remaining time of my life in peace and repentance". Is there a place for this?

The second, unrelated, question is; to what extent does one encounter nationalism in Orthodox monasteries? I have spoken to at least one monk of western origin who has had to take a certain amount of stick (on Mount Athos) on the basis of his nationality. I guess one expects a certain amount of this in the "world" (including the Orthodox world), but I would be a bit taken aback by experiencing it within monasticism.

Anthony

[Darius Aram]

> Hello, i just read your post and would like to comment. Yes, monasticism= =20 > is considered the hospital of the church. Actually to go a bit farther, a= s=20 > many priests have told me, "THe monasteryys are the ICU's (intensive care= =20 > units) of the Orthodox church." I was introduced to Orthodox Monasticism = a=20 > few years ago, and fought going for the first year. But then as i started= to=20 > meet and visit with some of the monks (in other monasteries, nuns) and=20 > elders, i was realizing how great the wealth of knoledge of the Orthodox= =20 > faith is at the monasteries. Yes, their [monks and nuns] lives are much= =20 > different, if not harsher, but just by going for a couple days or if i am= =20 > blessed, a couple of weeks, i come home a better person. My life becomes= =20 > reorganized, and reprioritized. I am easer to work with, i am calmer, my= =20 > prayer life ist strengthened and for a little bit i am in an utter state = of=20 > spiritual peace. Now of course, unfortunately as i begin to mingle in the= =20 > world again, that feeling slowly leaves, but it leaves me a different per= son=20 > just the same. As for the culture aspect, the Greek orthodox monasteries = are=20 > all in greek for a couple reasons, as explained to me by an abbot: One=20 > reason which i'm sure you've heard, is the translation explanation. All t= he=20 > old texts were written in Greek, and the best translation is in Greek, do= to=20 > the inevitable translation difficulties from Ancient Greek to English. A= =20 > more obvious explanation is, for me i am Greek Orthodox. Under the Greek= =20 > Orthodox Archdiocease in America, and if you read that title again it say= s=20 > "Greek" Orthodox. So basically, yes, im in America, but yes i am half Gre= ek,=20 > and yes i am in the Greek Archdiocese so therefore why shouldnt there be= =20 > Greek in the service. If i was Russian Orthodox, i would expect to hear= =20 > Russian, if i wanted to hear the Liturgy in English, i would join the OCA= =20 > (Orthodox Church in America). Thats just a basic way that i look at it. > Anyways please forgive me for rambling, i hope i didnt misunderstand your= =20 > earlier post, and forgive me again for rambling, May God Bless you and be= =20 > with you always. +Dtaram

[Darius Aram]

Anthony,
I just read your post and would like to comment. Yes, monasticism is considered the hospital of the church. Actually to go a bit farther, as many priests have told me, "THe monasteryys are the ICU's (intensive care units) of the Orthodox church." I was introduced to Orthodox Monasticism a few years ago, and fought going for the first year. But then as i started to meet and visit with some of the monks (in other monasteries, nuns) and elders, i was realizing how great the wealth of knoledge of the Orthodox faith is at the monasteries. Yes, their [monks and nuns] lives are much different, if not harsher, but just by going for a couple days or if i am blessed, a couple of weeks, i come home a better person. My life becomes reorganized, and reprioritized. I am easer to work with, i am calmer, my prayer life ist strengthened and for a little bit i am in an utter state of spiritual peace. Now of course, unfortunately as i begin to mingle in the world again, that feeling slowly leaves, but it leaves me a different person just the same. As for the culture aspect, the Greek orthodox monasteries are all in greek for a couple reasons, as explained to me by an abbot: One reason which i'm sure you've heard, is the translation explanation. All the old texts were written in Greek, and the best translation is in Greek, do to the inevitable translation difficulties from Ancient Greek to English. A more obvious explanation is, for me i am Greek Orthodox. Under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocease in America, and if you read that title again it says "Greek" Orthodox. So basically, yes, im in America, but yes i am half Greek, and yes i am in the Greek Archdiocese so therefore why shouldnt there be Greek in the service. If i was Russian Orthodox, i would expect to hear Russian, if i wanted to hear the Liturgy in English, i would join the OCA (Orthodox Church in America). Thats just a basic way that i look at it.
Anyways please forgive me for rambling, i hope i didnt misunderstand your earlier post, and forgive me again for rambling, May God Bless you and be with you always.

+daram

P.S. GEOFFREY, God Bless you and thank you for strenghtening my faith. just by reading your posts i am touched, God be with you+

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

Dear brother Anthony,

The spiritual health is offered by the Church to everyone, regardless of place and methodology. Both monastic and not monastic ways are legitimate ways of Christian blessing. (The non monastic is the way of being married and having children).

Both the monastic and the married ways of life are ascetic and they both require repentance and spiritual warfare.

You ask if there is a place for “passing the remaining time of ourlife in peace and repentance”. Let me say that there is such a place brother Anthony:our heart. It is, literally, the most proper place for such noble aspiration.

The monastic life is not different from the life of the rest of the Church.

Those “who are living a bad Christian life in the world” are being accepted in monasticism as well as those who are living a “good” life. What is required is the heart burning desire to love God and every human being.

Of course the whole Church is a “hospital” but this is not what Church is. The spiritual health is not an end in itself. The spiritual health is provided in order to restore the normal senses of physical and spiritual human being so that the abstract and distorted subjective reality would be healed in becoming one with the uncreated subjective reality of Christ. This is important to be understood as a personal relation with Christ.

Christians are not being healed in order to become “healthy” facing, living, understanding and experiencing the reality in the objective Christian true way of being. Christians are becoming “healthy” in Christ that is in being related with Him. This is not a privilege of monks.

Church as the body of Christ is the name of the genuine and authentic relation of humans with Christ. To wonder, if the place of “peace and repentance” is in monk’s life or not, is like asking “where the body of Christ is”. And the Body of Christ is the Church, not topologically but relationally everywhere – even in the “bad” Christian.

I end this message here, with the remark that nationalism is not just the genetic or cultural classification, but beyond that is the relational experience of reality. For instance, a Tibetan is experiencing the Buddhist past of his ancestors regardless of his faith, through the relational experience with his relatives and his co-patriots. If I were to be introduced in Buddhism I would missed the Tibetan’s Buddhist experiences that he had as a child. The experiences go beyond logic and knowledge; they are impressed in the hearts through relations. Likewise an “orthodoxized” Christian is different from a “born” orthodox in the way that his heart has become a place of faith instead of a heart maturing in faith. This is not a difference of a better Christian against a lesser one. It is a difference of experience.

And in Christ, all differences are glorified as parts of presence of God - even in void experiences.

What Christ brought to our lives is His Presence, no matter what our lifestyles are.

May God bless us, all.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Monasticism is a distinct calling from God and also a distinct witness of the Church. In truth monasticism is 'the angelic state' because it witnesses to the higher calling to be not of this world. It shows as a pattern where our life is and how to attain it.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Fr Aaron Warwick]

Many of us seem to have this implied assumption that all monastics are saints or that so-called 'worldly' problems, such as nationalism, don't exist in monasteries. The fact is that these problems do exist. Monks are human beings and they experience many of the same temptations and fall into many of the same sins as those of us in the world. As one monk responded after being asked what they did at the monastery: "We fall down and get back up. Fall down and get back up..."

Aaron

[Anthony]

Thank you for all the helpful comments (as always, it seems, when this subject is raised). You are right, Darius and Leandros, to remind me that repentance and healing are the gift of the Church as such, not just of monasteries. I know too the feeling that visiting monasteries opens my eyes to a few things, and gives me a brief respite from my normal self. I am in fact hoping to visit Athos in early September, so please keep me in your prayers.

I should clarify that my second question does not mean that I have a problem with the place of Hellenism (and other traditional Orthodox cultures) in the church. This is a big issue, of course, but I have no difficulty saying, with Patriarch Nikon, that "my faith and my religion are Greek" (or I could equally well say Russian). I suppose that is why it hurts when a few people go over the top. But as Aaron says, it is wrong to demand perfection from others.

Anthony

[Darius Aram]

Excellently Put Anthony!

And if you ever make it to Florence, Arizona, USA make sure you visit St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, truly its like an Athos in America.

God Bless

[Kosmas Damianides]

Estoy profundamente en amor con Jesús Cristo.