www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Byzantine Village Redux

I wonder if the fear of the future is the reason which monastic communities in the United States are on huge acreage of land? (In other words, for days when people may seek food and refuge there?)

Front runners seem to be Northern Maine and Western South Carolina. Any locals want to add their input?

Check out Richmond, Maine. In the 1950s it had the largest Russian-speaking settlement in the US, boasting three Orthodox churches; each of a different jurisdiction! St. Alexander Nevsky is the only one left. You could be another Baron Vladimir von Poushenthal.

Alice, I think it is a fear of the future and a sign of the times. I, for one, am more concerned all the time at the rapid pace of secularization, lack of morals, wrong being portrayed as right, and just plain old craziness - not to mention the "social engineering" our government is pursuing. It seems like a different world than I grew up in . . . and it is! Lord, have mercy on us.

I believe it boils down to just how much one is willing to tolerate. As for myself, I will not tolerate my children being taught that:
1. There is no God. Science is the final arbitrator.
2. Homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle.
3. Sex outside of marriage is a viable option, and is healthy for you.
4. Life should be fair and everybody should have the same, irregardless of whether they have worked for it or not.
5. Governments role is to take care of you.
6. Conformity is priority one.
7. Some human life is more valuable than others.
8. Life begins at birth.
9. Success is measured by bank statements.
10. Anything proposed by the Democratic (read Socialist) Party.

Oh, I *totally* agree! I guess you haven't read many of my posts to hear my own rants about this! LOL-

My question was one that may have been unconnected to the thread...

I was just thinking about how much land monasteries buy for themselves here in the U.S., and then I was thinking about the prophecies of saints and present day mystics on Mt. Athos about the end times which we are in (infact, one Elder is saying that 2013 will be the year of a/the(?) great war, starting in the Middle East), and about how in Mt. Athos they are getting many people seeking refuge from their hunger in present day Greece...

Then I was thinking about the historical role of the monastery throughout history (both Eastern and Western monasticism) and how people always ran to the monasteries in times of persecution, slaughter, hunger, etc., for refuge...

For those of us with school-age children who want to have some direct input in their schooling, Maine is out with bad homeschooling laws. You have to file a notice of intent to homeschool with the local school district superindendent and the state commissioner of education each year you homeschool, which needless to say puts you and your family on the radar screen from the beginning. And then you have to provide an annual assessment to the state as well each year.

This is a great idea, where ever it may be!

For a wonderful and humorous, but fictionalized, account of this short-lived rural Russian community in Richmond, Maine you might like to read The Girl Who Would Be Russian and Other Stories by Wallis Johnson. Priceless.

I've read of a medical ethicist who argues that parents should have the right to end a child's life up to the age of 2. Think of how many who start the "terrible twos" early would get the ax.

Bob

I hope he isn't a pediatrician.

Plans for Byzantine Village are coming along nicely. Common goals are being laid out. Potential locations are being discussed and we definitely have some momentum. If anyone is interested, jump in, or pm me if you like.

Brazil, Chile, or Argentina.

Chile is 90% Catholic with all Holy Days of Obligation for the Latin Church being public holidays. Abortion is still illegal in that country. The downside- you would have to learn Spanish. But, it's one of the easiest languages to learn for an English speaker.

Argentina is a little more Catholic-Lite but still pretty good.

Brazil is hot and humid and even more Catholic-Lite. And one would have to learn Portuguese which is similar to Spanish, but slightly harder to pronounce.

All in all, these three countries have strong economies, strong governments that have gotten over their dictatorships, and still are strong in traditional morality compared to America. They also have their own problems too.

My vote is for Chile. I've never been there but I've heard amazing things about the country. It has the strongest economy in the western hemisphere after Canada and the US. There's lots or rural land outside of the Santiago-Valparaiso conglomeration. A friend from my church has a sister who married a Chilean man and lives there, apparently it is very safe in comparison to the rest of Latin America. The economy in Argentina keeps collapsing, so they become really sound and then fall back into social disorder ever 10 years or so. I hear Argentine Spanish is really pretty to listen to, though.

Here ya go Dr Eric. Better increase your pt load a bit though to pay for it!

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