Categories: orthodox-life, monasticism
Date: 25 November 2008 08:12:31
As mentioned in this post, I read a collection of articles [PDF] written by the new Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, courtesy of a post by John at Notes from a Common-place Book. In the previous post, I quoted some of his words on the Orthodox life. Today I will quote some of his words on monasticism, as well as adding my [much more unworthy and intelligent] comments, particularly on how I see this in terms of my Christian life. This may go on for several posts as you know I am skilled at the art of rambling.
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah -- whose full biography you can read here -- entered Valaam Monastery as a novice monastic and was a monastic at St Tikhon's Monastery [Pennsylvania] and also St John of San Francisco [California]. So he has much experience and knowledge of the monastic life.
In one of the papers in the collection, Metropolian John writes, "It is said in Orthodox cultures that the health of a local church is measured by the health of its monasteries." [The Church as Spiritual Hospital, p. 46] I have heard similar -- that the health of the Church is measured by the health of the monasteries. This shows how entwined the monastic life is to Orthodoxy, and Orthodox Christians, and it is something that did attract me to the Orthodox faith. It is interesting how the Orthodox [yes, I am one of the: in name at least -- my practice of the faith leaves much to be desired; but for some reason I still refer to those I see around me, of great spiritual maturity, as "the Orthodox"] do see monasticism and monastics at the heart of their faith. Fr Thomas Hopko, in his series of booklets entitled The Orthodox Faith gives an overview of Monasticism in Orthodoxy.
Monasticism is something I have felt a pull to: to be honest I am not sure if it is as the life calls to me, or if I am afraid of life in the world, and my struggles within it, and a monastery seems 'safe' and 'secure'. Readings put paid to these notions: it is clear that monasteries, when well-run and disciplined, can increase the spiritual warfare for monks and nuns -- I doubt I could handle a hit with a foam paddle so struggles could break me. But still...it calls. Perhaps in times of stress moreso, which leads me to believe it may be my wanting to escape, but who knows? I do need to seek some spiritual counsel in this area: if only to set my mind at rest and set my path.
My desire, God willing, would be to make a pilgrimage to Mt Athos and St Catherine's Monastery to partake of the spiritual nourishment they offer. I would also like to see and stay at other monasteries in the Middle East. All things going well, next year I will be visiting some monasteries in Georgia through this tour. I am looking forward to it very much.
In the collection of articles by Metropolitan Jonah linked to above you can gain an insight into Orthodox Monasticism at Valaam Monastery [Russia], and the life, wisdom and impact of Elder Sophrony [who founded the monastery of St John the Baptist at Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, England] in particular, in the article A Vision of Contemporary Monasticism: Valaam and Elder Sophrony, pp. 17 - 25.