Suicide Incident Shocks Monks St. Anthony Monastery in Arizona

[Colleen1]

Grieved on the situation. Part of me wonders if he was willing sharing his heart with the others seeking the Lord at that Monastery or dealing with things alone.

If he did have a mental illness then he may have had trouble expressing himself appropriately. Often this can be the case.

 

[jckstraw72]

Elder Ephraim isn't anti-parish, but his monasteries offer a level of spirituality that is often missing in the parishes so people are going to his monasteries instead of parishes. He is very well-loved in Greece and on Mt. Athos, which I personally experienced.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I have been to three of his monasteries, went to confession at St Anthony's, and not once did I get any weird vibe or anything. in fact, meeting him was one of the great blessings in my relatively short Orthodox life.

Elder Paisios, whom everyone loves, said that when he first went to Mt Athos he was discouraged from meeting with Elder Joseph the hesychast's group, of which Elder Ephraim was a part of. he didn't before Elder Joseph reposed and he said that it was one of the greatest regrets of his life.