Monasteries and Cats

lebknight · Feb 18, 2017

Greetings sisters and brothers,
I'm Paul, Greek Orthodox from Lebanon (Antochian Patriarchate).
I am an avid animal rights activist, I care deeply and passionately about all animals and how they are treated. This became a big part of me and it is my belief that the Lord has called me specifically for this cause, and I am helping raise awareness around me about the need to stop cruelty towards our fellow earthlings.

Cats have a special place in my heart as I run to their aid wherever they may be.
I have seen many photos online of Orthodox Monasteries where the monks take care of cats. These images bring such joy to my heart.

I am looking for a such a Monastery (anywhere is fine, be it within the Antochian realm or outside) where I may be welcomed to go and spend a few days' spiritual retreat.
This will also serve as a test for me, as I am contemplating the monastic life.

Any help will be much appreciated.

In Christ

Paul

~Anastasia~ · Feb 18, 2017

Hello, Paul, and welcome to CF and to TAW!

I only have some basic knowledge of such monasteries. It seems like very many monasteries have at least a few cats, and I know of one having many. But I'm not sure how that one handles visitors or people interested in becoming monks - I'm not even certain about the current numbers of cats, since it's been a couple of years since we talked about them, but I'd guess they still have many.)

It might be better to know which countries would be easiest for you to visit? Maybe someone will have some knowledge, or point you to who you should contact?

Again, welcome. We are glad to have you with us.

graphite412 · Feb 18, 2017

A hieromonk that I know that visited Mt. Athos not long ago said that some of the monasteries there have huge swarms of cats that come and get food from the monks. I think they give the cats the food scraps.

~Anastasia~ · Feb 18, 2017

graphite412 said:
A hieromonk that I know that visited Mt. Athos not long ago said that some of the monasteries there have huge swarms of cats that come and get food from the monks. I think they give the cats the food scraps.

Sigh ... one more reason I wish I could visit ...

ArmyMatt · Feb 18, 2017

All Merciful Savior on Vashon Island's abbot, Fr Tryphon, has a well known cat who is kinda the monastery mascot. St Tikhon's Monastery has more dogs.

and I should mention Holy Myrrhbearers in NY is a working farm

~Anastasia~ · Feb 18, 2017

I just spent 2 hours on FB looking for the post about the bunch of monastery cats. I wish now I'd saved it somehow. I enjoyed the conversation. He was telling me how the one cat was the leader of all the others and we joked about him being the Abbot. But I have been enjoying FB reminisces.

RobNJ · Feb 18, 2017

ArmyMatt said:
All Merciful Savior on Vashon Island's abbot, Fr Tryphon, has a well known cat who is kinda the monastery mascot.

I remember..someone (I wish I remebered who) shared the pic of that cat, going down an aluminum ladder, against the building, and titled it "The Ladder Of Feline Descent"

rusmeister · Feb 18, 2017

Cat calendar featuring Russian orthodox priests goes viral

My priest is one of them.

ArmyMatt · Feb 18, 2017

rusmeister said:
Cat calendar featuring Russian orthodox priests goes viral

My priest is one of them.

haha, awesome

rusmeister · Feb 18, 2017

lebknight said:
Greetings sisters and brothers,
I'm Paul, Greek Orthodox from Lebanon (Antochian Patriarchate).
I am an avid animal rights activist, I care deeply and passionately about all animals and how they are treated. This became a big part of me and it is my belief that the Lord has called me specifically for this cause, and I am helping raise awareness around me about the need to stop cruelty towards our fellow earthlings.

Cats have a special place in my heart as I run to their aid wherever they may be.
I have seen many photos online of Orthodox Monasteries where the monks take care of cats. These images bring such joy to my heart.

I am looking for a such a Monastery (anywhere is fine, be it within the Antochian realm or outside) where I may be welcomed to go and spend a few days' spiritual retreat.
This will also serve as a test for me, as I am contemplating the monastic life.

Any help will be much appreciated.

In Christ

Paul

It's really good to love animals and God's creation, and to hate their abuse.
But passion is dangerous. It tends to make us lose sight of and even go against one good in pursuit of another.
The real way to stop evil abuses is to defeat our own passions, and bring others to the Church that they might also begin that journey. As CS Lewis said, "The most political act is the conversion of your neighbour".
But definitely visit a monastery. Don't make cats the main goal.

prodromos · Feb 19, 2017

Cats perform a very useful purpose at the monasteries. They keep the rodents under control.

paraskeve · May 2, 2017

Greetings Brother Paul ,
am glad to read this post with its content!
presently am housing cats in my home in Mt Lebanon.
iconography, monasteries and Biblical view of creation have a special place in my heart and attention.
Hope to hear your reflection on this !

In Christ
Paraskeve

~Anastasia~ · May 2, 2017

paraskeve said:
Greetings Brother Paul ,
am glad to read this post with its content!
presently am housing cats in my home in Mt Lebanon.
iconography, monasteries and Biblical view of creation have a special place in my heart and attention.
Hope to hear your reflection on this !

In Christ
Paraskeve

Hello, Paraskeve, and welcome to CF, and to TAW!

Btw, St. Paraskeve has a special place in my heart, as she is one of the Saints that were involved in the consecration of our parish.

Please let us know if you need any help finding your way around the forums. We are glad to have you with us!

ArmyMatt · May 2, 2017

paraskeve said:
Greetings Brother Paul ,
am glad to read this post with its content!
presently am housing cats in my home in Mt Lebanon.
iconography, monasteries and Biblical view of creation have a special place in my heart and attention.
Hope to hear your reflection on this !

In Christ
Paraskeve

welcome to TAW!

Jesus4Madrid · May 2, 2017

Jesus4Madrid · May 2, 2017

There are a few cats, even female ones, on Mt Athos. And the occasional vegan, male dog.

However, no Roman Catholic bishops co-celebrating

HowdyDave@ · May 2, 2017

As a monastic aspirant, you would be welcome in any monastery.

Just about all monasteries have at least one cat.
New Skete in Eastern New York (USA) focuses on dogs.

If your primary focus is on cats, you may need to adjust your focus before making a lifetime commitment.

Have you talked to your Spiritual Father about it?
On my path as an aspirant, one of the first things that my priest told me was to find a monastic Spiritual Father.

gzt · May 8, 2017

New Skete in New York is a rather atypical and unrepresentative Orthodox monastery (perhaps better considered an experiment in communal living among Orthodox people?!), but they are famous for training dogs.

~Anastasia~ · May 8, 2017

gzt said:
New Skete in New York is a rather atypical and unrepresentative Orthodox monastery (perhaps better considered an experiment in communal living among Orthodox people?!), but they are famous for training dogs.

I read all the books years before knowing what the Orthodox Church was. Things might have been quite different if I'd looked into it more deeply. But then I won't complain, and God brought me here (eventually) anyway.

ArmyMatt · May 8, 2017

gzt said:
New Skete in New York is a rather atypical and unrepresentative Orthodox monastery (perhaps better considered an experiment in communal living among Orthodox people?!), but they are famous for training dogs.

it might have been at the beginning, but their is some other weirdness there. you are right that they are atypical and unrepresentative of monasticism. I think they had a TV show or something for a bit too.

Monasteries and Cats

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