News from Orthodox Monastery in the Celtic Isles

Source: Orthodox Mission

Dear Friends,

This time last year, I started working to found our Monastery of All Celtic Saints. We had nothing at the time, except what God had offered us – the Church of Sts Ninian and Cuthbert on the Isle of Mull, and the beautiful dream of an Orthodox Monastery in the Celtic Isles.

    

Please forgive me for what will be a rather boring email, but I want you to know where we are at the end of this first year. You, each and every one of you, have sacrificed something – time, money or prayer – for this common dream to return Orthodox monasticism to the Hebrides. You are part of this story, and I hope you will remain one.

This January 5th, Kilninian Trust – the Trust that manages the Monastery – received the legal status of a registered charity in England and Wales. I have now applied for this charity to also be recognized and registered in Scotland; according to their website, the process could take up to three months.

Once this is settled, we shall be able to buy the five acres of land I fund-raised for while I traveled in the United States (a HUGE thank you to our American friends – we could not have raised this money without you; you are forever in our prayer). By God’s grace, I hope to have this done by the end of May.

Once we have the land, we shall start building the foundation of the future monastic house. We have the money for that, as well. This work will include the actual foundation, the septic tank and the water system.

All that is left now is to raise the money for the actual house. We have decided to buy a prefabricated house, built by a local company in the Isles. It will be made of wood. It will be rather small. It will be cold. BUT it is the fastest way to have some sort of accommodation at the monastery, so that the monastics may move in and start the proper life of the monastery. God will take care of us.

On a personal note, I have applied for a postdoctoral fellowship, so that – for the next three years – I shall do research and teach at the School of Theology at the University of Oxford. This will allow me to continue to fund-raise, by visiting parishes at the weekend, while being able to support myself through my work at the University. This way, I shall not have to spend any of the money we raise in order to support myself. Every penny / every cent we receive will be used to build the monastic house as soon as possible.

Time-wise, I shall continue to fund-raise until I raise sufficient funds to buy the monastic house. I hope and pray that this will not take more than two years, so that we may build the house during my third year at Oxford and we may have a place to live on Mull at the end of my fellowship.

This is a very basic view of what has happened this year. There are endless difficulties at every step, and I have to change and readjust our plans every time something happens. So far, though, God has blessed this Monastery beyond my greatest hopes, and I trust with all my heart that everything – the good things and the bad things – are His ways to guide me in the direction He wants this monastery to go.

For me, the small human being hiding under these monastic clothes, this last year has been the most blessed and full of grace period of my life. I have worked enormously but I have felt protected and loved by God in a way that I have never felt before.

I am also writing this email to say Thank You. Thank You for everything you have given this Monastery, Thank you for everything you have done for Orthodoxy in the Celtic Isles. Please remain close to us and be a part of this wonderful story.

Yours in Christ,
Fr Seraphim

2/4/2015

See also
St. Oda of Brabant, the Blind Princess of Scotland St. Oda of Brabant, the Blind Princess of Scotland
Commemorated November 28/December 11
St. Oda of Brabant, the Blind Princess of Scotland St. Oda of Brabant, the Blind Princess of Scotland
Commemorated November 28/December 11
When she awoke, she saw the sun shining for the first time in her life. Grateful for the miracle that God had performed through St. Lambert, Oda promised to dedicate the rest of her life to the service of God.
St Kenneth, Abbot of Aghaboe in Ireland St Kenneth, Abbot of Aghaboe in Ireland
Commemorated: October 11/24
St Kenneth, Abbot of Aghaboe in Ireland St Kenneth, Abbot of Aghaboe in Ireland
Commemorated: October 11/24
Dmitry Lapa
St. Kenneth became renowned for his sermons, which were full of inspiration and rated very highly by his contemporaries. Among other things, the saint was a well-known spiritual poet and theologian as well. These written works include commentaries on all four Gospels, known as the “Chain of St. Canice”.
Saint Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise in Ireland Saint Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise in Ireland
Commemorated September 9/22
Saint Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise in Ireland Saint Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise in Ireland
Commemorated September 9/22
Dmitry Lapa
Ciaran was educated by the prominent theologian St. Finnian of Clonard, the spiritual father of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland”. Here he showed himself to be a most gifted student and one of the most zealous monks.
Venerable Comgall, Abbot of Bangor in Ireland Venerable Comgall, Abbot of Bangor in Ireland
Commemorated May 10/23
Venerable Comgall, Abbot of Bangor in Ireland Venerable Comgall, Abbot of Bangor in Ireland
Commemorated May 10/23
Dmitry Lapa
St. Comgall is venerated as one of the greatest confessors, spiritual fathers and ascetics of his age. The biographer of St. Columban, Jonah of Bobbio, wrote the following of St. Comgall: "He was a great father of monks in Ireland, noted for his perseverance in teaching and strict discipline." St. Comgall was venerated all over Ireland.
Saint Patrick and the Emptiness of Revenge Saint Patrick and the Emptiness of Revenge
Gabe Martini
Saint Patrick and the Emptiness of Revenge Saint Patrick and the Emptiness of Revenge
Gabe Martini
If literature and film that extols revenge is typical of our culture, most of us would have spent those six years plotting our own acts of vengeance against the Irish. But St. Patrick shows us a better way.
Holy Hierarch David, Patron Saint of Wales Holy Hierarch David, Patron Saint of Wales
Commemorated March 1/14
Holy Hierarch David, Patron Saint of Wales Holy Hierarch David, Patron Saint of Wales
Commemorated: March1/14
Dmitry Lapa
The abbot led the same simple life as his monks and worked as hard as any of them. All the community members wore simple clothes and all their belongings were held in common. Voluntary poverty and the refusal of all possessions were among the main rules of the monastery. St. David himself, like many other Celtic saints, used to retreat to the river to read the whole Psalter, standing in cold river water even in winter.
Comments
Peter Wilson2/5/2015 4:38 pm
I believe that having registered charity status for the Kilninian Trust will help your funding considerably.

People who give regularly can donate tax-efficiently via a Charities Action Foundation (CAF) account.

Please wait a few days and CAF will have it set up on their system (search under Kilninian Trust or by charity number 1159766).

God bless you and your work, Father Seraphim.

Pray to God for me and my family.

Peter
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