a photographic pilgrimage to Orthodox Christian monasteries across the continent
For the first of a new series of blog posts, I would like to share a thin but extremely weighty and important book which was recommended to me several years ago when I was preparing to test the monastic life: Letters to a Beginner on Giving One's Life to God by Abbess Thaisia of Leushino, …
Continue reading Books for Monastic Seekers: ‘Letters to a Beginner on Giving One’s Life to God’
Vespers at 6:30pm, followed at 7:15pm by my presentation on Orthodox Monasticism and a slide show of images from the North American Thebaid Project! This coming week kicks off my Summer travels with a highly anticipated (certainly by me!) mid-week presentation at a thriving parish of the OCA Diocese of the South: St Athanasius Orthodox …
Here is a wonderful spiritual reflection on Elder Ephraim of Arizona and the significance of his establishing 17 monasteries in North America in the Athonite tradition. You can learn more about St Anthony's Monastery in Florence AZ here, which relates the story of Elder Ephraim's monastic life and how he began establishing monasteries in America …
Continue reading The Elder Ephraim of Arizona: His contribution to North America
The detailed Life of St. Cornelius of Komel presented in the newly published The Orthodox Word #311 provides fresh inspiration for Orthodox monastics and seekers, as well as for a certain pilgrim with a camera... From the announcement on the St. Herman Press website (emphasis added): Vol. 52, No. 6 (311) November-December, 2016 The Life …
Continue reading St. Herman Press publishes new installment for ‘The Northern Thebaid, Vol. II’
Third and concluding part from the journal, Orthodox America. Part 1 | Part 2 The Monastic Rule The Rule or "Typicon" governing Orthodox monastic life is based upon that of St. Basil the Great (d. 379), which he synthesized from the tradition of the early Desert Fathers. This Rule was later adapted by various great fathers of monasticism …
Continue reading An Outline of Orthodox Monasticism – Part 3
The North American Thebaid 