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St Tikhon's is a monastery....just sayin.....
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It's always been encouraged by the priests at the parishes I've attended, to go to monasteries. In fact, they plan trips once or twice a year for their parishioners to go visit ones closest to them in my experience.***ORTHODOX ANSWERS ONLY PLEASE!***
What is it with some priests discouraging their parishioners from visiting monasteries?
I've heard different stories about this. I've heard it said that the priest might be nervous that parishioners will tithe to the monasteries instead of their parish. Or, that they will stop attending their home parish altogether and swap to a parish affiliated with a monastery. I've also heard that priests have horror stories of over-zealous people becoming infatuated with what they imagine the monastic life to be, instead of the reality, so they are nervous about a spiritual disaster for their flock.
Any experience or thoughts on this?
You may enjoy reading this article which might give some idea of why some people seem slightly anti-monastic at times: Five Good Reasons NOT to Visit a Monastery- By: Metropolitan Jonah of the OCA
Mind you, this is written by somebody who was, at the time, the abbot of a monastery.
Given that he had his start in California it isn't surprising how commonplace such crazies are over thereMet. Jonah does get "the whole more Orthodox than everyone else" bit
“Oh, so you too are continuing to persecute that righteous man! I know in my heart he is truly Orthodox! Besides he baptized me yesterday, making up for what you did not do by chrismating me. Actually,” getting excited, “why am I here anyway? I should really go be with him as the true criterion of Orthodoxy. . . Not in this modernist, ecumenist jurisdiction. My spiritual father may have been defrocked, but he is obedient to God, not those godless bishops! I know it because I feel it in my heart.
Given that he had his start in California it isn't surprising how commonplace such crazies are over there
Met. Jonah does get "the whole more Orthodox than everyone else" bit
“Oh, so you too are continuing to persecute that righteous man! I know in my heart he is truly Orthodox! Besides he baptized me yesterday, making up for what you did not do by chrismating me. Actually,” getting excited, “why am I here anyway? I should really go be with him as the true criterion of Orthodoxy. . . Not in this modernist, ecumenist jurisdiction. My spiritual father may have been defrocked, but he is obedient to God, not those godless bishops! I know it because I feel it in my heart.
What diocese do you belong to?
I’ll have to try later. Every photo I try to upload goes literally horizontal
Its one of the monasteries we hoped to visit when we were over there but didn't get the opportunity. Now we get to visit vicariously through your familyI know, thread resooorecshiooone! However, it wasn’t long ago that I was dating I hadn’t been to any American monasteries….
Today I went to the beautiful Dunlap Monastery Holy Convent of the Theotokos.
The nuns were great! I asked if I could take a few pictures to share. They said as long as it’s not social media and it might encourage visitors rather than using photos instead of visiting, photos are great to share.
***ORTHODOX ANSWERS ONLY PLEASE!***
What is it with some priests discouraging their parishioners from visiting monasteries?
I've heard different stories about this. I've heard it said that the priest might be nervous that parishioners will tithe to the monasteries instead of their parish. Or, that they will stop attending their home parish altogether and swap to a parish affiliated with a monastery. I've also heard that priests have horror stories of over-zealous people becoming infatuated with what they imagine the monastic life to be, instead of the reality, so they are nervous about a spiritual disaster for their flock.
Any experience or thoughts on this?
May the Lord keep us and defend us from ourselves, for we don't even need enemies these days.
I know the feeling! Up until this year the only monastery I'd been to was All-Merciful Saviour on Vashon Island, WA. These last couple months since moving to the DC area I've been to St Tikhon's Monastery where I ended up having to drive back in a U-Haul box truck. And this last weekend I visited Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA founded by former Princess Iliana of Romania. Wonderful monks and nuns at both places.I know, thread resooorecshiooone! However, it wasn’t long ago that I was dating I hadn’t been to any American monasteries….
I know the feeling! Up until this year the only monastery I'd been to was All-Merciful Saviour on Vashon Island, WA. These last couple months since moving to the DC area I've been to St Tikhon's Monastery where I ended up having to drive back in a U-Haul box truck. And this last weekend I visited Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, PA founded by former Princess Iliana of Romania. Wonderful monks and nuns at both places.
At Holy Transfiguration they had Liturgy in an outdoor chapel with three bishops serving! Archbishop Melchizadek, Archbishop Nathaniel, and Bishop Andrei. What I really liked was how Mother Christophora, the abbess, communicated the agenda with the crowd, for example, right before Communion she announced "we'll have three chalices this morning. One on the left, the right, and in the back. Please commune at your respective chalice". Then after Liturgy she announced, "we have food here, there, restrooms that way, and in a few hours we'll have the Holy Unction service in the outdoor chapel". Loved that monastery.