Monasticism vs. graduation

[Jaakko Olkinuora]

Hi all,

I would like to ask you about a thing I've often heard. I'm quite young and have been planning to go to a monastery, but everybody's saying to me that I should graduate from the university first. What do you think about this?

1) You can also study in the monastery if you get a blessing for that
2) You don't need university degrees in monasteries
3) If you decide to return to the world, you can always study more.

This is the obstacle why I am not in a monastery yet; if I wouldn't struggle with this I'd probably been a novice for a couple of years now!

In Christ
Jaakko

[Paul Cowan]

Dear Jaakko,

What has your priest advised you?

Paul

[Jaakko Olkinuora]

Well he didn't have a strict opinion about this. He said that he understands those who require the graduation but then again he said that it's not necessary.

Jaakko

[Paul Cowan]

I read the lives of the saints every day from the OCA site. Most of them come from "illustrious families" and were educated in the secular sciences. But not all.

From what I have learned talking to monastics and others, it is a calling. Not one you can just turn away from later and return to the world. I have also heard more and more of the monks on the Holy Mountain have college degrees or higher education.

That would seem to fall in line with the early church fathers also such as St John Chrysostom. Of course, many Holy people did not have any educaiton such as St. Mary of Egypt only what God and the Holy Spirit showed her in the desert.

So there is no one simple answer. If you are serious, go visit a monestary and ask the elder. If you are serious, be prepared to do WHATEVER he says. Even to stay and not return home. Be sure to count the cost before you go.


Leaving All to Follow Christ

Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Paul

[Nicolaj]

Dear Brethren!

As in this thread as in another about a young man thinking about going to a monastery I like to ask how to calling is handled in the orthodox chuch.

I have been also Roman and someother things before the Lord put me in my place and there I have seen how the calling was handled in other communities. First whenever you think about something like being a monk, nun or priest, you have to do is go to a father and ask him what is to do. Whatever he tells you, you must do it! Obedience is the first fruit that comes along when you recieve the call. It is not something the world gives you, the calling and everything that is needed to follow it is preserved by the holy spirit.

As we know this is a very shy nature and can be lightly overheard. It is like the flame of an candle, easy blown out. Then comes a time were your father will prove your calling together with others. You go to the bishop and will recieve an special blessing and probably he will send you somewhere to help you to get a confirmation for the calling. But the last thing you should do is trying to sit down by your own and try to find out what to do. If you aren't sure and the answers you get from others aren't clear then go and ask others . At a monastery or a seminary for instance.

There will be more to say, but for the moment this is what I like to say about it. But be carefull to hear the whispering of the holy Spirit and if you listen carefully it can come into your life with an bursting and all those wonders told in Scriptures.

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Peter Farrington]

Dear Jaakko

Miten menee?

In my own Coptic Orthodox tradition it seems that more and more novices are expected, if it is within their natural abilities, to have completed a degree, and even worked for a little while.

I think this is viewed a bit like the way that abbots and masters would make a potential novice wait outside their cell or monastery for days to confirm that they had some sticking power.

I think that the period of study and work is being used to test the desire of the novice to become a monk, and to make sure that to some extent they are making a mature choice.

I know it is not a rule, and there is always discernment on the part of the fathers, but more monks seem to have had a university education now than was ever the case.

Peter

[Theopesta]

Monk Jaakoo

In my opinion, If you struggle with your studying in the world, whether or not you will do a success, absolutely, you will do a great success in your monastic life (apparently or internally). Because, you will get huge experience from yourself during studying. I do not know if I am right or not.

Enjoy with your heavenly hours wherever and whoever you are.

In One Christ