Let's talk about Orthodox monasticism.

We need to have lots more monastics here in the USA.
Reader Nilus

Reader Nilus said:

We need to have lots more monastics here in the USA.
Reader Nilus

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Agreed, Who's ready to sign up for the noviciate

I've been HERE a few times and plan to visit HERE in January.

xenia said:

I've been HERE a few times and plan to visit HERE in
January.

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Two of Elder Ephraim's monasteries. My catechism took place at one, and I split attending divine liturgy there as it is 5 minutes from my house, with the nearest parish which is 1 hour away.

Have you ever met Elder Ephraim? I have not and was curious on any thoughts about him if somebody has.

Nickolai said:

Agreed, Who's ready to sign up for the noviciate

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I would agree except for the fact that I'm married with a family. I'd say that we need more people serious about the ascetic struggle in every walk of life. The ascetic struggle of the monk belongs to all of us!



the sinful and unworthy servant

I've been to the Monastery of the Glorious Ascension in Resaca, Georgia. I stayed 3 days and enjoyed the time their very much. It was great to attend daily services, and to be able to relax, and to be able to help the monks out some (I did some work in the bookstore.) It was weird having a "bed time" too. We forget monks even have the discipline of what time they have to go off to their rooms for the night. The fathers there have a good relationship with my home parish in Alabama and they've even attended weddings at our parish. Here in Florida, 3 monks from a nearby monastery attend Sunday liturgy at the local parish. The parish is bigger than my old one, so I haven't met them yet. Also, my godfather is a monk at St. Anthony's in Arizona. He was a laymen though when I entered the church.

Well, I have no story of my own, but my dear friend lives in Yakima, WA, and she mentioned that she and her young daughters love to visit the nuns who are south of Yakima. (Reader Nilus probably knows where) The girls get to help make candles and my friend says it is so good for all of them, herself included. I got the idea in my head that their day trips were like a reality check...a re-setting of the gauges.

How does one go about becoming a monk? How about founding a monastic brotherhood? What are the processes involved?

Esran said:

How does one go about becoming a monk?

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First of all, you'd have to feel it was your spiritual calling. Then your spiritual father would also have to feel the same. You'd then have to find a monastery that you'd want to be a part of (my godfather that is a monk visited many many monasteries before making his decision.) Then, you'd go through a novice period (oftentimes lasting several years) where the abbot of the monastery would decide whether you could become a monk or not. I'm sure there are variations on this theme, but that's kind of it in a nutshell.

How about founding a monastic brotherhood? What are the processes involved?

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It wouldn't be too terribly different from what's above, except there would be a lot more work & need for money involved (buying land, constructing buidlings, etc.) I don't know if their story is typical (I doubt it), but you can read about the founding of the St. Herman of Alaska monastery in California in Fr. Seraphim's (Rose) biography Fr. Seraphim Rose: His Life & Works.

Esran said:

How does one go about becoming a monk?

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First, you pray alot, to find out if it's something you want to do for the rest of your life. Then with the blessing of your Spiritual Father you find a monastary to can take you in as a novice. This is where practice starts to differ. I've heard of some monastaries that have a pre-novice period before you even become a novice (don't ask me why), some go straight to the noviciate. The noviciate is a period of time for you to try out monasticism (you can leave anytime you want). After your abbot decides you are ready one of three things will happen:

1. You will be given a Riassa (outer-cassock) and a Klobuk (Kamilavka with a veil), but you will not be tonsured. This is called a Rassophore monk. He is almost an upgraded novice, because although he has more monastic garb he can still leave the monastary with the blessing of the local Bishop.

2. You will be tonsured a monk, given a Riassa, Klobuk, and Paraman (a big uncomfortable square peice of rough cloth with the cross and all the symbols of the crucifixian stiched or written on it. This is attached to a wodden relic cross with a string. This is worn all the time with the cross on your chest and the cloth square in the back.) This is called a Stavrophore monk because of the cross they wear.

3. You will be tonsured a monk and given another form of Habit call the Megaloschema (we don't have any of these in the US. I only know of one person in the US who was a Great Schema, but he's a Bishop now) I don't know a lot about the Habit of a Megaloschema since I've only seen it in real life one time, (You can see what they look like if you click on my profile picture, they almost look like wizards) so I can't really tell you much. (You'll probably never see one unless you go to the Holy Mountain, or maybe Valaam.)

I should note that what I listed is common Russian practice. The Greeks differ on their orders. I only know the Russian practice, so I can't tell you the Greek practice. I also don't know much about the habit of a nun. I just know what you call them. Mother if tonsured and sister if a novice.