A Royal Monastery

November 20^th, 2014

Monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified

Black monastery's walls, alike a tomb in which

when we will lay down in it, it opens the path

to the Kingdom and it wakes us turned toward the East.

(spiritual rest for the soul)

       What is that, that we call loneliness? It can not simply only be the absence of the others, for a men could be alone, and may not be lonely, and likewise someone can be among people, and he still can be lonely. What is that?

For many things in our lives we are seeking for an answer from God? We pray to Him, we beg of Him, and yet we don't get it. He knows what is the best for us, and He gives us an answer in His own time. Almost a week I was at St. Sabbas the Sanctified's Monastery in Detroit, where the Abbot is Father Pachomy – a monk who has an artistic heart. The monastery, what should I say about the monastery? When you are there, it seems like you have gone back to the royal tsardom of Russia. Father Pachomy has been working hard, and when someone gives everything from himself, even from his sweat that wets the earth, something will begin to grow up. A couple days ago, he was telling me how Metropolitan Hilarion was admired when he visited the monastery and told Fr. Pachomy: “this monastery would be excellent place for monks who excel with extreme talant: with music, theology, iconography, embroidery, woodcarving...”

      Father Pachomy is an interesting and hospitable person. On a building he would build even more, a stone he would coat with gold, the temple of God he would adorn, but the human eye, which is ever envious, wants to dismantle where he did labor. And this monk also is surrounded by these types of problems. He was telling me how a couple years ago, some clergy were forbidding parishioners from visiting this monastery. But these, God's people “weren't born yesterday,” and said to themselves: “let's go there and see what's going on.” So they came, saw the monastery and the Godly culture surrounding it, and never went back to their parish churches, but instead began to attend the services in this monastery.

We, who are so greatly impassioned, who are so corrupt and opposed to God's will. The envy that we bear in ourselves, we don't wish to be rid of it, but instead find pleasure in it. Blessed are those who have overcome this! Yes, such creatures exist on the earth, glory be to God. May the Lord help us in the battle against this passion.

      The other day, while we were having lunch, speaking about various topics. Fr. Pachomy emphasized one negligence of which he encouraged me to think. This reflection was about the veneration of the Holy Apostles, where this monk said that when there is a feast of some local saint (or national one), such as St. Sergius in Russia, or St. Sabbas of Serbia, The country of the saint turn it into a big deal, while when there is a feast of some of the Holy Apostles, they barely serve festal (polieleos) service, instead they serve only simple services. His point was very truthful. There shouldn't be a devision of the Saints, and he was correct when he spoke of how in some countries people celebrate greatly their local saints, but for the Holy Apostles is barely served a great service. After Christ's Ascension, the Holy Apostles were those who sowed the seeds of the Gospel. It seems to me we have forgotten, in some ways, their memory. And I, myself, am among those who often forget this.

        Currently, at the monastery there are two monks and one novice. Brother Romanos, who is the novice, has had a complete musical education, and can captivate with his voice. The other monk, Father Zosima, likewise has left an strong impression on me. The cell where I was staying, was the next one to Fr. Zosima's. Several times the two of us made and drank a Russian tea named “Russian Royalty.” Until Fr, Zosima introduced it to me, I didn't know that a tea with such a name existed. However, I found that this tea tasted very good. I am not a big favorite of tea because I do not enjoy hot beverages. When I drink it, I begin to sweat profusely. In the winter period I do drink hot drinks such as tea, but in the summer... I cannot even think of drinking it. So when we drank and we talked, I would always wait for it to cool off before emptying my cup of delicious tea.

   By earthly descent, Fr. Zosima is an american, as for the heavenly, I think no words are necessary, because it is exceedingly clear he is of Christ. In my conversations with this elder monk, I discovered proof that I've been seeking from God. For what exactly I am talking about? I am in my last years of studying in college and I often find myself thinking of where should I enroll further. I went so far with my thoughts that what first came into my mind were Oxford, Cambridge... This is what what fallen man first thinks of, always to be the best and to have the highest decrees from the, according to today's world, most well known and renowned educational institutions. Ah, how fallen we are!

Now let me go back to the conversation with Fr. Zosimas. He told me he had worked in Harvard for twenty six years, and I immediately asked him how is the system there because following the world standards, Harvard is one of the best. Father Zosima's answer opened my mind and revealed to me a wise and rational way of thinking and considering such topics. His first words were “it is worthless.” Further on, he said when at the beginning students enroll and first attend such institutions, they often become self-important and often even arrogant. They study there for a few years and at the end they get the diploma in their hands, and become even more so steeped in these same passions: self-importance and arrogance. After taking their diploma, they get a job where the companies want to hire individuals with diplomas from these universities. Not because they worked harder then others, but just so that the company could boast about having such prestigious employees, and not look as much into the individual character of the person. Certainly, this doesn't apply to everyone who graduated there, but generally speaking, this is happening in those universities. Some might contradict these monks' words, but Fr. Zosima had worked for twenty six years in such an institution, and has seen many things first hand, thus he spoke about it. Even if this point of view is not completely true, the message is clear and obviously very wise.

       Today, as every Sunday, Fr. Pachomy served the Divine Liturgy. He delivered a sermon right after the reading of the Gospel. The tone with which he spoke was rather high and strict. At the beginning that scene puzzled me and I was wondering why he spoke with such high and strict tone. There was a reason for it and here is why: last Thursday was Thanksgiving, a day when families get together for lunch and they thank God for everything. On that day, at the monastery Fr. Pachomy served Thanksgiving Moleben. Only a few people came, while the rest who Fr. Pachomy knew, did not come. So today, besides speaking for the actual day, the Father began to talk about Thanksgiving and for how much we thank God. From other things, he said the following: “How many of you came on Thursday to thank God for everything?” At the beginning I was scandalized by the way he spoke, but there was a reason for his harsh words. After the Liturgy finished, I told him of my concerns, he smiled and said to me: “Maybe people in Russia or in Macedonia would understand you if you speak with a normal voice, but not here in America. Here it must be done in this way or otherwise they will become lazy in the faith. Here, the society makes them to be such.” For someone like me, who haven't heard a priest to preach that loud, would start judging, or say to himself: “what's happening with him?” but there in nothing wrong with it. After this, I remembered St. John Chrysostom's sermons. I recalled how his sermons were much louder and stricter, not unlike Fr. Pachomy was in his sermon. Today, if we want to be a real pastors, and also a real Orthodox Christians, we should not be afraid of speaking up for the truth, but we have to be fearless for Christ's sake. 

       At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Pachomy shared something with the people where his sermon words were confirmed. Here is what he said:

Six months ago Michael, one of our most devout parishioners suffered a massive stroke which paralyzed the left side of his body. He has been in bed trying to recover with physical therapy and he prayed if he could walk again, and not to be bed ridden for the rest of his life. He wanted to come to church! The therapist got him to the point where he could walk with a walker which was a shock. In the first place he could walk with the therapist from the bed a couple steps in his bedroom, and once he did, he said he would like to be put in the car and see if he could walk from the car to the church. He wanted to give thanks to God for having ability returned, that he could walk again.

I think none of those present stayed indifferent, including myself. What faith do we see in these souls! Their heart is full of love for Christ. Blessed are those! With zeal Michael served God, helped in the altar, cleaned etc., and now God returns according to his faith. After all, today I heard the Lord's words being fulfilled: let it be to you according to your faith and well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. There is no word written in the Gospel that is not constantly fulfilled in our lives. As I grow up through the years, by reading that Truth, I realize how vivid (alive) those words are and likewise whatever we read from the New Testament, it's happening in our lives. Therefore it is said that the Gospel is a live Truth.

     God gave me the opportunity to visit and spend some days in many monasteries that have their own Typikon (monastery rules). I often hear people, and how they subdivide the monasteries and say: “here is like a paradise.” Other say: “in this monastery they don't serve Matins,” and there are also some who say “this monastery is the best.” Let us understand one important thing: every monastery has its own beauty, customs, and rules. God does not give more grace to this or the another monastery. He gives His grace equally, but it's up to the monks to what extent they will keep it. Each monastery has their own characteristic. You come to Jordanville and see one type of monastery life and style. Here, in St. Sabbas, you see another monastery life with it's own spirit. In St. Anthony, in Arizona, their main focus in on the Jesus Prayer. St. Herman monastery in Platina is contemplating up in the heart of the mountains. In Bigorsky, Lesnovo or Zrze' Monasteries in Macedonia follow another rules. The grace is one because God is One. There is no devisions of the monasteries because when we do that, we subdivide Christ. I've heard many times people say: “he is Jordanville's, St. Anthony's, St. Herman's...,” and here you can see competition and fight among the faithful about whose monastery is better. This is a trap of the evil one for he wants divisions. God gathers and the evil one divides. Thus, this crafty devil turned Adam and Eve away from God and from the Eden's harmony. We really need to be watchful and careful from this!

Any of us who go to a monastery with the intention of finding Christ and saveing his soul, will find that pearl of great price, and a person who goes there to seek only beauty, an expensive and golden icons, marble floors or grandiose iconostasis, will not find a peace for his soul, but on the contrary, that person will be blown from the Southeastern wind.

Today, I've learned that a monastery is a monastery, and each mountain has its own height and beauty. Consequently, every monastery is adorned by various podvigi (struggles) that the monks are bearing. Let's not forget that, and not divide the monasteries into good and bad.

We go in those holy places to search for spiritual rest and to pick spiritual fruits, for the fruits of these trees are not seasonal, but perennial, even unto eternity.