The Monastic Life: The way of perfection
By Prof. Georgios Mantzaridis With the advent of monasticism, a special way of life appeared in the Church, which however did not proclaim a new morality. The Church does not have one set of moral rules for the laity and another for monks, nor does it divide the faithful into classes...
A Thousand Years Are As One Day: Life on Mt. Athos
Long before 60 Minutes produced a documentary about life on Mt. Athos, some French filmmakers managed to obtain permission in the early 80s to take extensive footage of the famous Athonite monastery of Simonopetra. The result is the distinctive documentary embedded above, which provides a window into many aspects of monastic...
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware: My Acquaintance with Elder Sophrony
Metropolitan Kallistos says that Elder Sophrony wanted his monastery to stay loyal to the tradition of Orthodoxy, but at the same time be open to the spirit of the world. He explains how monks in Essex Monastery practiced hospitality, and why Elder Sophrony wanted his monks be well-educated, so they...
A Recommitment to Simplicity
Driving down the highway several years ago, I passed a huge billboard advertisement for The Container Store. In case you don’t know, The Container Store is a store dedicated entirely to organizational items for home, office, and all the minutiae therein. The billboard itself cleverly alluded to the notion that...
Life Lived Simply
When it comes to life simply lived, no one does it better than the monks and nuns of the Orthodox Church. Committing themselves to a life of prayer, askesis (strict self discipline) and obedience, they live with few possessions and luxuries. The monastic folk song, God’s Love Abides, brings to...
Spirituality and Singing in Mount Athos
Watch and listen as Hieromonk Thomas from the brotherhood of “Thomades” at Small St. Anne’s Skete on Mount Athos, shares stories from his first days as a monk. Hear about the music traditions of Mount Athos. Stand next to the monks as they chant. English subtitles are provided throughout. Published on...
Celtic Monasticism, Part 1
By Hieromonk Ambrose Prayer of St. Columban of Iona “Kindle in our hearts, O God, The flame of that love which never ceases, That it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in Thy holy temple, Set on fire with Thy eternal light, Even Thy...
Humbleness is the key to keep the Grace
By Fr. Raphael Noica (of Essex) Fr. Raphael: Monasticism is like living something from the age that shall come, in which, as the Savior says: “They neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the Angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:30). We are not like the...
On Humility and the Humble Outlook – 3
By Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi With a variety of definitions, our Fathers lead us to humility, but the meaning is almost the same: the comprehensive labour of love that supports all the other virtues. We shall now note some of the sayings of the Fathers which refer to the qualities...
The Healing: Isceljenje
‘The Healing: Isceljenje’ (2014) is a Serbian film by Ivan Jović that tells the story of an Orthodox monk grappling with the aftereffects of war in his homeland. Carrying this pain in his heart, the monk finds his way to a secluded hermitage in the wilderness, where he encounters a...
