lessons from a monastery

May the Righteous be Glad and Rejoice before God

matushka constantina — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:01:01 +0000

At 10:40 p.m. GMT [June 16, 2013], after several weeks of suffering an ordeal that had worsened in the last hours, Father Justin Pârvu ended this transitory life and moved to the heavenly orders, to be with the Holy Martyrs and Confessors that he both loved and longed for.

Father Justin Pârvu was born in “Petru Voda” village on February 10th, 1919, and entered the ”Durău” Monastery in the year 1936. He served as a military priest on the Eastern Front in World War II, and from 1948 to 1964 he was politically imprisoned. Between the years 1966-1975 he was reinstated as a monk at the “Secu” Monastery (Neamt county), and from 1975 to 1991 he was at “Bistrita Monastery” (Neamt county). In autumn 1991 he laid the foundation stone of the “Petru Voda” Monastery (for monks), and in 1999 he began the construction of “Paltin” Monastery (for nuns).

By the end of March of this year, the stomach cancer that he secretly carried for several years metastasized. This brought about medical complications, following which, after consciously suffering as a martyr, [Fr. Justin] moved from this world into a better one.

May we be in his prayers!

Commemoration of the First Ecumenical Council

matushka constantina — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:12:14 +0000

Painting of the First Ecumenical Council by Vasily Surikov

(Source)

The commemoration and praise of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council is held on the Sunday before Pentecost or on the Seventh Sunday after Easter. This Council was held in Nicaea in the year 325 A.D. during the reign of the saintly Emperor Constantine the Great. This Council was convened to eliminate the confusion which Arius, a priest of Alexandria, had created by his false teaching. Namely, he spread the teaching that Christ was created in time by God and that He is not the pre-eternal Son of God, equal in being [essence] with God the Father. Three hundred and eighteen Holy Fathers participated in this Council. The Council condemned the teaching of Arius and Arius, since he refused to repent, was anathematized. The Council finally confirmed the Symbol of Faith [The Creed], which was later augmented at the Second Ecumenical Council [381 A.D.]. Many distinguished saints were present at the First Ecumenical Council among whom the most notable were: St. Nicholas of Myra in Lycia, St. Spyridon, St. Athanasius,

St. Acillus, St. Paphnutius, St. James of Nisibis, Macarius of Jerusalem, Alexander of Alexandria, Eustathius of Antioch, Eusebius of Caesarea, Metrophanes of Constantinople, John of Persia, Aristarchus of Armenia and many others from the East. From the West, the following were present: Hosius of Cordova, Theophilus the Goth, Cecilianus of Carthage and others. The most important work of this Council was the confirmation of the Symbol of Faith [The Creed]. The Council also established the time of the celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection of Christ [Pascha] and issued twenty various canons.

St. Anna of Larissa and Her Son John

matushka constantina — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:57:13 +0000

(Source)

In the Middle Byzantine period, 9th century to mid-10th century, we have yet another holy figure of the city of Larissa, Venerable Anna and her son John. The life of Saint Anna came from the Director of State Archives, Mr. Stavros Galoulis, from Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1558 (ff. 71v-73r), which is a Menaion for June from the 16th century. Her memory is celebrated on June 13th. In the Synaxaria Selecta of the Church of Constantinople it is written: “Our Venerable Mother Anna and her son John.” St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite writes in his Synaxaristes: “On this day our Venerable Mother Anna and her son John. Mother and Son, Anna and John; they both appeared dwelling in heaven.” It goes on to give a narrative from Paul of Monemvasia (10th cent.) from his work A Narrative of Virtuous and Godly Men and Women. Lastly, her life is also included in the New Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church for the month of June.

The occasion for the writing of the Life as told by Mark, founder of a monastery in Constantinople, was a meeting he had with a hieromonk and all that this hieromonk confided in him regarding this Saint. This hieromonk traveled by sea from Rome to Constantinople. The ship that carried him was forced at one point, because of the winds, to stop at an uninhabited island of the Adriatic. The hieromonk took advantage of this forced docking of the ship to walk around the island.

He had not gone far when, as the same confessed, he saw the “shadow of a naked person” telling him: “Man of God, if you wish to see my insignificance and to accord my humility the benefit of your prayers, throw me one of your garments; for I am a woman and naked, as you can see. It would be quite improper for me to show myself to your priestly perfection.” The hieromonk obeyed the wishes of the Saint and offered her a garment. Then the Saint turned towards the East, knelt, and upon getting up she thanked God for making her worthy to meet a priest. The hieromonk did not lose the opportunity to ask who she was: “Where are you from, my lady? How did you come here and how long have you been living on this island?” The Saint willingly responded to this question: “I am from the country of Greece, most worthy Father, from the city of Larissa, the daughter of poor parents. When they died and left me an orphan, one of the ruling class took pity on me and received me into his house. He nourished me and raised me with care as though I were his own daughter. When I came of age that Christ-loving man married me to his only son as his wife, paying no attention to my poverty and lowly birth.”

The choice of the husband for his bride was not favorable to his relatives and friends. Their reactions to the marriage with a poor and insignificant woman was fierce. He, of course, tried in every way to repel it. He would say: “I am pleased with whatever my holy father has done for me. Since he raised her and knew her to be of great value and beauty, his first considerations were not riches and noble birth, but virtue which is attractive to God; and that is what he gave me.” His relatives continued to revile him daily. Anna, seeing her husband suffering, decided to leave secretly. In this way she departed Larissa, “taking nothing but the clothes I stood in,” and “with God’s guidance,” as she says, “I came to this island – without having realized that I was pregnant.”

Nobody was beside her to support her. Her son was born on the deserted island of the Adriatic. She says: “When the nine months had passed I gave birth to a male child. I cut up the clothes I was wearing to make swaddling clothes for him and I raised him…. The child is now thirty years old and naked, as am I. Everyday, together with me, he offers hymns to God with his thoughts turned toward heaven, himself a reflection of divine beauty. Every day I have implored God to have mercy on my humility and to send a priest to illuminate my son by holy baptism.” For this reason she pleads with the hieromonk: “I beseech your holiness, Reverend Father, go back to the ship and bring your priestly vestments and some bread to illuminate my son, and to celebrate the Liturgy so that you can permit us to communicate of the worthy and honorable body and blood of Christ our God.”

From this pious priest she also asked the following: “I ask this also of your holiness: that you would bring a tunic for my son to put on after holy baptism, and also that you not tell anybody about me.” Upon hearing this, the hieromonk made a prostration and went to the ship to prepare for the Mystery of Baptism and Holy Communion without telling anyone anything. She waited for him and in turn led him to the place where her son was found. She asked her son to appear before the priest of God, saying: “Come out, child, and reverence the one who has come to illumine you.” Her son obeyed, and having appeared he reverenced the priest. The priest did the same to him.

At a nearby spring the hieromonk catechized and baptized the son, giving him, according to the Synaxaria Selecta and the Synaxaristes of St. Nikodemos, the name John. The Narrative of Paul of Monemvasia and the New Synaxaristes do not mention the giving of a name following the Mystery of Baptism. Rather, it says in the words of the hieromonk: “When I had celebrated the divine mystery, both of them partook of the spotless body and blood of Christ our God.”

As the two holy figures were leaving, St. Anna asked the hieromonk for a final favor: “When you go back to the ship, for the Lord’s sake, say nothing of what you have seen. When (with God’s help) you return to Constantinople, if you want to speak of what the Lord has revealed to you, then do so; but withhold the [name of the] island, lest by hearing the story, some persons might come and find us.” How did the pious hieromonk react? Let us listen to what was said to Paul of Monemvasia: “With tears in my eyes I worshipped the God who works strange and remarkable things beyond number and makes provision for those who seek Him with their whole heart and keep His divine precepts. Thus I returned to the ship and said nothing to a soul until I came back to this great City.”

According to the Life in Codex Vaticanus Graecus 1558, Anna and and her son, having thanked the priest, “surrendered their holy souls into the hands of God.”

Holy saint of God pray to God for us!

Tips from the Monastery: What I Learned about Obedience

matushka constantina — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:43:21 +0000

Obedience is a central virtue in Orthodox monasticism. The sisters practice what is called “cutting off of the will”. They do complete obedience to the abbess who is their spiritual mother. They also do obedience to one another, especially to older nuns. And this is all done in the context of learning how to live the words, “Not my will, but Thy will be done” (Lk. 22:42).

“One who climbs a mountain for the first time needs to follow a known route; and he needs to have with him, as companion and guide, someone who has been up before and is familiar with the way. To serve as such a companion and guide is precisely the role of the ‘Abba’ or spiritual father—whom the Greeks call ‘Geron’ and the Russians ‘Starets’.” - Bishop Kallistos Ware

If we are able to entrust ourselves to our spiritual mother or father, in a relationship that we can see, we learn how to do the same in our relationship with God, Whom we do not see. And in this way we learn to be obedient to God, and really abandon our will and do His will, and learn His will. By doing obedience to our spiritual parent, like the sisters do to their abbess, we cut off our own will. This allows us to do obedience to God, because it tames and calms our will for ourselves, freeing us to see what is good for us as opposed to blindly doing what we want. It quiets us and our strong feelings and opinions for ourselves and helps us to hear the voice of God.

I remember an abbess telling me, at the beginning of my Christian struggle, to “Ask your spiritual father about everything. Over time you will learn what to do, what is best, and what you should do. But until then ask him about everything!”

“[I]f you endure obedience without murmuring, God will send down upon you the Grace of the Holy Spirit, and the humble prayers which you also make are received by Divine Goodness.” - Elder Doonysius (Ignat) of the St. George Kellion, Kolitsou Skete, Mt. Athos, Greece

I’m sure it isn’t always easy for the sisters to do obedience, just like it isn’t easy for us in the world to do the little obediences we’ve been given by our spiritual parents. But those who are able to bow their head under the “light burden” of obedience, inherit a great reward, for the Lord tells us, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24:13).

That Trials of Illness Cleanse the Soul

matushka constantina — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:24:53 +0000

(The following is from the book Elder Hadji-Georgis the Athonite (1808-1886) by Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, pp. 44-47)

For himself, the Elder [Hadji-Georgis] would recall the following story which hιs Elder Father Neophytos had told him so that he would endure with joy the trials and pains of asceticism for the salvation of his soul.

“Once, a man who was ill lost his patience and cried out to the Lord asking to be relieved from his terrible pains. An angel then appeared and told him:

‘The All-Merciful God had heard your prayer and will grant your petition, but under one condition. Instead of one year with torments on earth by which every man is cleansed from sin like gold in fire, you will agree to spend three hours in hell. Because your soul needs to be cleansed with the trials of illness, normally you would have to endure sickness for another year. Since this seems difficult for you, think of what hell means where all sinners go. For this reason try it if you wish for three hours only, and then with the prayers of the Holy Church you will be saved.’

The sick man thought, ‘One year of torments on earth is a very long time. It is better to be patient for three hours in hell,’ he told the angel.

The angel then gently took the man’s soul in his hands, left it in hell, and withdrew, saying, ‘I will return in three hours.’

The ever-lasting darkness which reigned, the oppression, the cries of the damned which reached his ears, and their wild appearance all created terrible fear and sorrow in the unfortunate man. He beheld and heard torments everywhere. In this immense abyss of hell there was no sound of joy to be heard. Only the fiery eyes of demons could be seen in the darkness, waiting to tear him apart.

The wretched man began to tremble and cry aloud, but only the abyss answered his cries and screams. It seemed to him that entire ages of torments had passed, and while he expected the angel to come at any moment, this did not happen.

Finally, despairing that he would not see Paradise, he began to moan and cry; but no one cared. The sinners in hell only thought about themselves, and the demons rejoiced in their torments. But behold, the sweet radiance of the angel appeared in the abyss.

With an angelic smile he stood over the tormented man and asked him, ‘So, how are you faring, O man?’

‘I would not believe that there could be deceit even among angels,’ the tormented man whispered.

‘What do you mean by that?’ asked the angel.

‘What do you mean by what do I mean?’ continued the torments man. ‘You promised that you would take me from here in three hours, and since then years, rather, whole centuries have passed with unbearable torments.’

‘Blessed man, what years? What ages?’ the surprised angel said. ‘Only one hour has passed since I left, and you must stay here another two hours.’

‘What? Two hours?’ Oh. I cannot bear it. I do not have the strength. If it is possible and if it is the will of God, I beseech you, take me from here. It would be better to suffer for years on earth until the Day of Judgement; just take me out of hell. Have pity on me,’ the tormented man cried out, raising his hands to the angel.

‘Very well,’ replied the angel. ‘The Good God as Loving Father will have mercy on you.’

With these words he opened his eyes and saw that, as before, he was in his bed of illness”.

With such thoughts the Elder mortified all his senses, because interest in the salvation of one’s soul humbles the flesh and deadens the passions. After such asceticism, and from such patience and perseverance while going through such terrible pains [he was badly slandered in his life], and because of his humble thoughts, which brought him to believe that he was very sinful and that he had to cleanse his soul through illness… it was natural that an abundance of the grace of God was granted to him so that he never became ill during his entire life.

A Word from the Holy Fathers in an Image of Beauty

matushka constantina — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:19:58 +0000

Christ is risen!

matushka constantina — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:39:40 +0000

Truly He is risen!

The coming week will be quiet around here because I’ll be away with my Mum visiting our favourite Canadian monastery (turn your speakers on). I have a couple posts scheduled though.

Fr. John is in Thessaloniki this month and will, God willing, return as Doctor Father John (or whatever the proper title of a priest with a PhD is). Pray for him!

I hope you are all still enjoying this Paschal season. It’s important for us to continue to greet one another with “Christ is risen!” until the leave-taking on June 12.

I’ll a light a candle for you, dear readers, while at the monastery.

May the Mother of God be with you all!

Oh, and Many Years to all the Constantine(a)s and Helens who celebrate their patron saints’ feast today on the Old Calendar!

The Person of Elder Justin of Romania

matushka constantina — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:56:04 +0000

Here is a very beautiful word about the very loved and revered Romanian elder Justin Pârvu by one of his spiritual daughters. A friend of mine did a great work of love and translated it for me to share its spiritual depth as well as a glimpse into the great spiritual person of Elder Justin.

[UPDATE: I'm sorry if I scared everyone half to death with an earlier edition of this post. I was informed that Elder Justin had reposed, but he hadn't. Please pray for his health - whatever God wills. Forgive me!]

Saturday, 1st of June 2013 23:29

Today was St. Justin’s Day [the Philosopher and Martyr]. And along with the martyr philosopher of the first centuries, we celebrate St. Justin Popovich, the Serbian Elder who fell asleep in the Lord in 1979. And… last but not least, is the day of our father abbot['s name day].

About Father Justin one cannot really speak with words.

A few days ago when he left for the monks monastery, I was able to take a glimpse of him for a few moments. We were very near each other. I closed my eyes as that was how much he was shining. It was like his body became compact light. I thought of Tabor. I was heartbroken [with] regret that I might have ever upset him with something. However, I felt I was flying…

When I first met him I knew that the Spirit of God was dwelling in this man, to a greater extent than in any other Romanian in a radius of several centuries. Naturally, I followed [him]. The world with all its riches and glory cannot be compared to the joy of the Gospel written in a human heart.

Last week, for the 30 seconds during which I had the honor and happiness to be allowed to see him on the bed of suffering, I had proof that vertical eternity is really CLOSE to the human heart. I saw a prince of Truth crucified on the nation’s cross and embraced tightly by the risen Christ. Beyond amazement, while doing the due prostration, I lived to a total intensity that for that particular moment, I was worth being born – to see the union between God Himself and a great martyr, to understand the beyond nature fullness of love, to look at the indescribable greatness of martyrdom is definitely the biggest honor I’ve ever lived. It’s good that we are eternal, so that we have the time to thank God!

Whilst kissing father Justin’s hand it was as if I had reached the source of music, the prototype of harmony for which the universe was created towards MAN, I was only able to say in [my] mind: I love you father, with my whole being…!

Among Christians there is no separation: the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ unite us all in the Father, without time and space in the greatest happiness. Glory to Thee, Who alone does wonders!

May you live in us, Blessed Father, as God lives in you!

A spiritual daughter of Father Justin Pârvu from Paltin (Maple) Monastery

(Source)

A Word from the Holy Fathers in an Image of Beauty

matushka constantina — Fri, 31 May 2013 10:28:46 +0000

Constantinople and Patriarch Gennadios Scholarios II

matushka constantina — Wed, 29 May 2013 10:00:36 +0000

Christ is Risen!

This photo is of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople from our pilgrimage there in 2008. I am posting it today as a reminder of the day the City fell. In my book The Scent of Holiness (pp. 128-129) there is a story about the first Patriarch after the fall, St. Gennadios Scholarios II.

Here it is:

After singing Agia Sophia I told them about my trip with my husband to Constantinople earlier that summer, and they told me about Patriarch Gennadios Scholarios. He was the first Patriarch after the city fell.

After the Turks took over Constantinople, the ruling Sultan Mehmed II, who led the capture of the city, had a recurring dream about a hand with five fingers. Upset that neither he nor any other Muslim could decipher its meaning, the Sultan sent out his men to find the monk Gennadios, who was renowned for his insight into things of a spiritual nature. Once they found him, the men asked monk Gennadios to interpret the Sultan’s dream. Gennadios agreed but said he needed to fast and pray for several days before he would be able to interpret it.

After fasting and praying, he was informed by God what the dream meant. The hand with five fingers the Sultan continually saw in his dream represented five faithful Christians—the five faithful Christians Constantinople did not have living in it at the time of its collapse.

“If there had been only five faithful Christians in Constantinople, God would not have allowed it to be captured by you,” monk Gennadios explained to the Sultan.

Relieved to finally have his dream interpreted, Sultan Mehmed II promised not to persecute the Christians and to make Gennadios the leader of his people. The Sultan honored his wish. Thus, monk Gennadios became the first Ecumenical Patriarch after the fall of The City…

Imagine, I thought to myself, if back then there weren’t even five faithful Christians in Constantinople, how many would God find in our cities today?

It is believed by some that the Sultan converted to Christianity through the prayers and enlightening conversations he had with St. Gennadios.