- Jul 21, 2011
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And Serbian Orthodoxy no less!
I often see a lot of frustration and criticism posted by Orthodox on the Internet. I don't get to post very often, but thought I would share a more positive experience.
I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of weeks ago a priest who helped to re-establish the brotherhood at the Decani Monastery in a mostly Muslim area of Kosovo. He is a former actor from Belgrade who, after having visited a monastery years ago, realised that he needed to change his life and decided to seek monastic tonsure and then ordination to the priesthood. He and his brothers spoke out against the violence and politics of both sides during the conflict in the 90s.
I was blessed to be able to spend several days with this monk. I have rarely been around someone so imbued with Scripture; listening to him was like hearing a paraphrased version of the Bible. "You know", he would say, "where there are a couple or three people congregating in the name of Jesus, there He is". Speaking to this Serbian Orthodox monk completely recharged my spiritual batteries.
He spoke of conversions in Serbia and the problem of phyletism. He noted that true conversion occurs when we begin to love Christ and our Christian brothers more than our Serbian (or other) nationality.
He invited me to come visit Kosovo, which I am sure I will do (God willing). I reflected after meeting him on how privileged I feel to have met Godly Orthodox monks, priests and bishops. I have communed in Antiochian, Serbian and Russian parishes (and I shall be at a ROCOR parish this weekend). I have been blessed by them in innumerable ways. I cannot imagine now being without their grace, kindness and wisdom.
Perhaps some of you have visited Decani already. I would love to hear about the experience.
I often see a lot of frustration and criticism posted by Orthodox on the Internet. I don't get to post very often, but thought I would share a more positive experience.
I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of weeks ago a priest who helped to re-establish the brotherhood at the Decani Monastery in a mostly Muslim area of Kosovo. He is a former actor from Belgrade who, after having visited a monastery years ago, realised that he needed to change his life and decided to seek monastic tonsure and then ordination to the priesthood. He and his brothers spoke out against the violence and politics of both sides during the conflict in the 90s.
I was blessed to be able to spend several days with this monk. I have rarely been around someone so imbued with Scripture; listening to him was like hearing a paraphrased version of the Bible. "You know", he would say, "where there are a couple or three people congregating in the name of Jesus, there He is". Speaking to this Serbian Orthodox monk completely recharged my spiritual batteries.
He spoke of conversions in Serbia and the problem of phyletism. He noted that true conversion occurs when we begin to love Christ and our Christian brothers more than our Serbian (or other) nationality.
He invited me to come visit Kosovo, which I am sure I will do (God willing). I reflected after meeting him on how privileged I feel to have met Godly Orthodox monks, priests and bishops. I have communed in Antiochian, Serbian and Russian parishes (and I shall be at a ROCOR parish this weekend). I have been blessed by them in innumerable ways. I cannot imagine now being without their grace, kindness and wisdom.
Perhaps some of you have visited Decani already. I would love to hear about the experience.
