Study group?

[Theodore Tifrea]

Hello, does anyone know of a study group on the Jesus Prayer in Southeastern Michigan? Thanks...Ted.

[Fr John Wehling]

Ted,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

I can't answer your question, but I do know a couple of priests in that area that I would be glad to put you in touch with if you want to e-mail me at frjohnw@sbcglobal.net. They might know more about this.

The Peace of Christ,
Fr John

[Fr Averky]

Dear in Christ Theodore,

Why would anyone have a "study group" on the Jesus Prayer? We in America seem to be constantly seeking "groups" for our every little need. I have never heard of Orthodox people who were born into the faith having to have groups founded for every aspect of their spiritual lives.

The Jesus Prayer is very personal, and should be done with the guidance of one's Spiritual Father. Go to one of Fr. Ephraim's monasteries and talk to the abbot-I am sure that he will be able to help you.

In Christ,

Fr. A.

[Fr Averky]

Dear Theodore,

If I am not wrong, I do believe that there is Holy Trinity Monastery not too far from Detroit which is under Fr. Ephraim.

I would be so bold as to say that in the case of the Jesus Prayer, it might be better to speak to a monastic, rather than to participate in a group, for it might end up being "academic" rather than the very deeply spiritual and personal prayer that it is intended to be.

If you will look back a few months in our archives, you will see that there was a very lively exchange of ideas concerning the saying of the Jesus Prayer. The book, "The Way of the Pilgrim," while in a sense very inspirational, is at the same time misleading. This is so because all too many well-intended neophytes read the life of the "pilgrim," and then think that they can hop right into reading the Philokalia and intently saying the Prayer of the Heart. Not so.

The author of the "Pilgrim seems to be but a simple peasant, yet it has been conjectured that the "pilgrim" was in fact a monk. Any tried Orthodox monastic will tell you that laypeople ought not read the Philokalia for many years after they have joined the Church, and that the Jesus Prayer should be said under the direction of a sound priest or hieromonk.

A few months ago I mentioned that last Fall one of our Igumens travelled to Russia. When he went to the bookstore at Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, people from all over the world were there buying a variety of religious items. If someone wanted to buy a prayer rope, he was asked if he is Orthodox, if he said "No," then he would be told that he could not buy one. If the person was Orthodox, he would be very sternly asked if his spiritual father had blessed him to say the Jesus Prayer. By the way, this same igumen, when asked by one of his spiritual children if she could read the volume of the Philokalia she had purchased, told her "Not now, and not for many years."

So you see, Theodore, this is not a question for a group study, but is a very serious and even possibly spiritually dangerous endeavor, especially if one tries do do it on his own. I in no way discourage you to say the Jesus Prayer, but I adjure you to find a person to guide and help you. Please pray for me, and be assured of mine for you!

In Christ,

Fr. A.

[Robert]

This thread has been inactive for some time...but I have a question. I remember reading the account of a young man on his weblog describing a visit to an Orthodox monastery in eastern Michigan. While there I believe he made reference to a time when all the monks and many of the visitors spent a period of time together reciting the Jesus Prayer. This was the first time I had heard of a group reciting the prayer together, and I wonder how common this practice is, and what benefits is might bring.

[Fr. John A. Peck]

Dear Theodore:

I might recommend Holy Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction Michigan, about 10 minutes north of Jackson. It may be a drive, but worth it.

Archimandrite Roman Braga is there, and seeing him is well worth the drive. He spent many years in a communist prison, much of it in solitary confinement. When he left the solitary cell, he turned and kissed the floor. When the guards asked him why he did that, he replied "That is where I learned to be a monk."

I have this from Fr. Roman's lips. I know of Holy Trinity monastery, and have nothing bad to say about them, but recommend Holy Dormition.

In Christ,
Fr. John

[Warren Bensinger]

Fr. John bless:
I Yell a harty AMEN to all that you have said about Holy Dormition. I live 15 miles north and spend as much time as I can in the book store and talking with who ever is avalible when I'm there.
Fr. Roman is a wonderful man of God. Is not afraid to give straight answers and direction when needed.
If anyone has the oppertunity to be in the Rives Juction area, they should stop in. It is a beautiful facility and does much to futher the faith.

Learning to love
warren
t.s.

[Jurretta J. Heckscher]

Dear Robert:

I have heard--but only at second hand, so I may well be misremembering--that the Jesus Prayer is sometimes prayed by the entire community together at the Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, England. This is the monastery founded by Archimandrite Sophrony Sakharov, of blessed memory, spiritual son of St. Silouan of Mt. Athos.

However, I repeat that I merely recall being told this by someone else, so I may well have it wrong; you should verify my vague memory with someone better qualified than I to speak to the subject directly.

Yours in Christ,

--Jurretta

[Elisabeth]

> Dear Jurretta and others,

Quote: I have heard--but only at second hand, so I may well be misremembering--that the Jesus Prayer is sometimes prayed by the entire community together at the Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Ecumenical Patriarchate), Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, England.

Yes, Jurretta, I think you are right. I used to visit this monastery regularly and recently my god-daughter has visited and says that the practice continues in the same way. The monks, nuns and visitors gather to pray the Jesus Prayer every weekday morning and evening. One person chants. On Sunday and Feast days they celebrate the Liturgy, Matins etc. The Monastery of St. Anthony & St. Cuthbert on the borders of England and Wales also practices the Jesus Prayer in a similar way (again, my god-daughter has visited recently). Robert asked what the benefits might be? I can only speak of my personal experience which was soon after starting to practice this prayer. Instead of reading about the rhythm of the chant, the concentration possible in visual darkness and how the heart becomes important bent over sitting on a low stool...I experienced it. I also prayed for an hour or two...much longer than I had done at home! A prayer that had been part of my private prayer joined with others, gained strength, and reminded me that private prayer is always within the family of the Church. 'For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' (Matt. 18:20)

In Christ Elisabeth

[Fr Averky]

Dear Elizabeth et al.

The practise of joint recitation of the Jesus Prayer is to be seen in many well-established Orthodox monasteries throughout history.

I recently found the site of the Novo-Tikhon convent in Ekaterinburg, which is beautifully set up and in good English. (skity.ru) Speaking about obediences, it is said that when the nuns who do the sewing arrive in the morning, they sing a hymn to the Mother of God and St. Simeon Verkhoture. During the entire time they are working, different sisters take turns saying the Jesus Prayer out loud, while the rest work quietly with no frivoulous talk. At the end o0f the work day, they sing "Truly meet it is," bow and ask forgiveness of each other and return to their cells.

St. Paissius Velitchkovsky, having both Moldavian and Russian monks, would provide that on one night, a monk would read to the Moldavian brotherhood in Moldavan, while the Russian Fathers sat and quietly receited the Jesus Prayer, and the next night it would be reversed. In many Greek monasteries, novices working in twos or more recite the Prayer out loud in order to avoid mindless chatter.

While this is an acceptable monastic practise, always keep in mind that for the untried, the Jesus Prayer must not be said with concentation in the mind, nor must an individual attempt to breathe or keep any particular body position, and most certainly, not to try for it to descend into the heart. Only spiritually preparedf persons can even think of such a thing, and then only with the guidance of an experienced Spiritual Father. To attempt these things when one is not spiritually strong enough opens the doors to terrifying temptations. I can cite any number of Fathers who admonish people to say the Jesus Prayer at all tiems audibly: St. Seraphim of Sarov, Elder Sebastion of Optina, St. Ignatii Briachaninov, to name but a few, if only a whisper, and to approach this Prayer with humility and fear.

In other threads, I have spoken about situations which arose here in my monastery because people came here to become "ascetics," attempted to accomplish things far beyond them, and endeed up in all kinds of trouble, most recently, in a mental hospital.

I have said this on many threads many times: As converts and "educated" folk, we have the attitude that if we pick up and read a spiritual book, it somehow implies that we can put into practise what we have just read. That is why I never give or suggest "The Way of a Pilgrim" to interested parties or new converts, because from it they surmise that they can say the Jesus Prayer thousands of times a day, and much worse, that they can pick up the Philokalia and read it with understanding. It is most difficult to convince those born in industrialized countries, that "understanding" is not jus a matter of comprehension, but living the Orthodox life, falling, getting up, suffering through many sorrows and trials, sinning and repenting, loneliness and personal suffering before the words take on the life and meaning that is intended. What is so very difficult for most is that true spiritual matters cannot be understood through reading, but that it takes HUMILITY and PATIENCE to make any spiritual progress, and there is no way to get around it. If a person only learns to say the "Our Father," with true love, it will suffice for whole libraries of "knowledge." Please believe me.

What you experienced at the monastery is good and proper-there- but do not attempt too much at home*by yourself where you have little protection. This is serious business, and I beg pou not to take my words lightly. If we can simply learn to pray with the simplicity, purity and trust of a child, God will tenderly and graciously accept our words. Not all have been called to ascetism, but we have all been called to faithfully stay on the path to salvation. What you experienced was a mercy from God, but please do not be proud and think you do it by yourself.

May God bless and help you. Remember, simplicity, which for us Westerners is a word barely comprehended, is what pleases God more than anything. While on earth. Our Lord walked among the simple, blessing, healing and comforting them; and for us, why would we want anything more than to be numbered forever among His simple ones?

Love in Christ,

hieromonk Averky

[Melissa]

Father Averky - Nice to "see" you back on Monachos. Hope all is well.
Re: Patience, humility, and simplicity.
We make our lives so busy, and so much about worldly success, that it's hard to discern when we may still be trying for "success" even in religious matters. It can be such a subtle temptation. Even "hurrying to be humble" is a temptation I experience - as if I could shed the "old man" immediately. That kind of expectation is something I put on myself, and prayer and giudance are necessary to help me combat this. Simplicity will grow in our lives if we embark prayerfully - and with guidance - perhaps on the external simplicity first (ordering our lives), and then with faith, it can become more. The Jesus prayer is a big help, when, as you said, it is used with guidance.
As always, I'm in need of your reminders about humility, and appreciate your information and wisdom. Melissa

[Warren Bensinger]

Father A. Bless:

Thank you!!!
I normaly don't like to read long post's and sometimes miss good things by pressing the "d" button, but I'm glad I read both of your post's. The one from this thread and the one from "leaving Orthodoxy".
I'm a new convert (almost 3 years old now, but still in my terrible two's ;^) ) I'm also from a chruch of converts. I thankfully don't see the "exact" things that you mentioned but know that we don't know everything. We have a Romainian Monistary close by and have spent some time there. Maybe I need to spend more time there and listen!!!
Thank you again.
Learning to love
w
t.s.

[Elisabeth]

> Dear Fr. Averky,

Thank you for your message and teaching, and especially for writing it at such a difficult time for you. I will try to keep in mind your advice.

I am fortunate to have had wise guidance from my Spiritual Father for over two decades, however, I often fail to follow it and the path that might lead me closer to God!

Love in Christ Elisabeth