a photographic pilgrimage to Orthodox Christian monasteries across the continent
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
"Orphaned at an early age," this great saint "was raised by a certain good and pious nun." He "imitated his adoptive mother in the habits of monastic life, in fasting and in prayer," and grew to be a shepherd of souls, founding a monastery which thrives to this day, over a millennium later. From this …
Continue reading Ven. Athanasius, Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism on Mt. Athos
Children love pilgrimages to Orthodox Christian monasteries, as any Orthodox parent who has taken their kids to one can tell you. These books help reveal why. Maybe it's the total simplicity, beauty and peacefulness of the surroundings, or perhaps it is because the nuns or monks themselves have a child-like quality about them which allows …
Continue reading Children and Monasticism: Ideas for Summer reading (and pilgrimages!)
Here is an outstanding resource for Orthodox Liturgical Music, created by an American monastic. When I was on pilgrimage at Archangel Michael Monastery in Canones NM in Autumn 2014, I recall being surprised by the compunctionate and familiar tones of some of the chants the brothers sang during Matins. Came to find out that one of …
Continue reading ‘Orthodox Music’ by Monk Martin at Vashon Island
I have been using this outstanding book as a resource in planning my travels for the North American Thebaid Photographic Pilgrimage since the Atlas's publication at the start of 2016, and downloaded this digital edition onto my iPad immediately after it was announced. The linked table of contents makes navigation a delight, and the ability …
Continue reading ‘Atlas of American Orthodox Monasteries’ now available in digital format for free
The North American Thebaid 