www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Visiting a monastery?

I've always been fascinated by the monastic life, and I'm thinking about spending at least part of my spring break at a monastery. I'd like to visit a Byzantine Catholic monastery, but the ones in this country are all in California; as a North Carolina resident, that's a bit of a drive! Plus, I emailed Holy Russurection in Newberry Springs, CA twice and haven't heard back from them. Can anyone share their experience at monasteries in the Southeastern US, or offer any recomendations?

There's a Trappist monastery in South Carolina (Mepkin Abbey) that looks appealling, but I'm generally more comfortable in an eastern liturgical atmosphere. I've considered visiting an Orthodox monastery, but 1) I don't know if there are any in my area 2) I wouldn't be able to recieve the Eucharist 3) I'm not even sure that, as I Catholic, I'd be allowed to visit, as I know monks tend to be slightly less ecumenical than your average layman.

Any ideas?

Thanks, and God bless,

Chris

Holy Cross in West Virginia

They will treat you very nice. tell them I sent you! LOL!!

http://www.tcgalaska.com/holycrosshermitage/default.htm

Alexandr

Wow, that place looks beautiful. Almost as stunning as Jordanville. I'll let them know that you recommended it. Thanks for the help!

God bless,

Chris

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but having finally visited a monastery (Holy Resurrection in Newberry Springs, CA), I'd like to offer a few brief reflections on my week-long stay.

First, traditional monastic life is something that I wish every person had the chance to experience, if only for a week. To be able to strip away all of the noises and distractions of life and to encounter God in the liturgy and in the heart is a tremendous blessing and a life-changing experience.

I had a lot of free time at the monastery. When I wasn't participating in the public prayers (which took place at 4:30 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm, and 8:30 pm on an ordinary day), I slept, read, or prayed in my room alone. Such lengthy periods of silence and solitude afforded me one of the geatest blessings of my visit: the ability to commune with God through the Jesus Prayer. Sure, I had prayed the Jesus Prayer before, but never for any considerable period of time, and never in a place of absolute silence. Here, free of any distractions, nosies or obligations, I was able to devote myself entirely to God in the prayer; to attempt to look within myself and to marvel at the vastness of the interior life; to marvel still more at the fact that the same force that created the universe loves me enough to dwell within such a sinful creature and to allow me to know Him as a Person (or three Persons, rather). I know it sounds cliched, but I can't think of another way to describe the experience.

Second, the monks of Holy Resurrection (Fr. Abbot Nicholas, Fr. Maximos, Fr. Moses, Fr. Basil, and Br. John) are five of the wisest, kindest, most humble and most human men I have ever met. I had always thought of monks as these superhuman, ethereal, angelic figures who floated about chanting all day. At the monastery, I discovered that monks are people like everyone else, with their own personalities and backgrounds and quirks. They were always willing to talk, and it was a real privilege to converse with them. The monastic life seems framed by the "big" questions (What is the purpose of my existence, where did I come from, etc.), and it was a true blessing to listen to men who confront such questions daily.

Finally, I urge all of you to support the monks' newest endeavor: the Anastasis Dialogue. Though the Dialogue has several goals, I understand it primarily as an effort to promote better relations between Eastern Orthodox, Byzantine Catholics, and Roman Catholics, and to raise awareness of the treasures and centrality of monasticism in the apostolic Churches. If monasticism truly is the heartbeat of the Church, our very survival depends upon an appreciation and renewal of the monastic life in both East and West. The Dialogue is supported by several leading figures in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, but it will go nowhere without support from the laity. More information can be found here: http://www.hrmonline.org/anastasismission

I apologize if I have rambled. If anyone is considering visiting a monastery such as Holy Resurrection, however, all I can say is: please, try it! It is an experience like no other.

God bless,

Chris

Chris,

If possible please post your thoughts etc as they settle, mellow and age...sometimes they take weeks to form.

james

Glory forever!
Slava na viki!

Chris,

I have always enjoyed my all too brief visits at HRM. Due to my schedule I primarily get there for the pilgrimage in October, Someday I do hope to be able to visit on a non-pilgrimage week/weekend. Would love to be there for Pascha! While I enjoy the pilgrimages, it is not the same as a regular weekday at the monastery.

Steve

Glory forever !


I am very glad for you ! Thank you for sharing your reflections on it. Like James wrote, I would enjoy reading your further reflections later on.



A worthy goal !

I like to think that participating at this Forum is also an endeavor to promote better understanding and relations between Eastern Orthodox, Byzantine Catholics, and Roman Catholics.



Thank you, Chris, for your post. It was the one of the most uplifting posts I've read in a while. Be well.

-- John

I definitely found that to be true. I left the monastery about a month ago, and my thoughts about the visit noticeably developed and changed since that time. There is much more that I'd like to write, but I'm moving to Chicago tomorrow, so it may be awhile before I have time to post again. Thank you for your wise words.



I'd love to go to the pilgrimage, but I live in NC, so it's a bit difficult (and expensive!) to get to HRM more than once a year. You should definitely go during a regular weekday, however. Being the only guest in the monastery allows for one-on-one interaction with the monks that wouldn't be possible with a large pilgrimage crowd.




Thanks, John! You do the same. I agree with you about this forum, by the way. Its members provide informative dialogue characterized by a profound degree of respect and charity that I have not found anywhere else.