Roscoe, New York, September 23, 2019
Photo: goarch.org
The first-ever monastic assembly of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was held at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Monastery in Roscoe, New York, over the weekend, reports the press service of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The assembly was convened by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America “to promote the value and importance of monasticism in our Orthodox Christian tradition and the spiritual life of the faithful,” and was attended by the abbots and abbesses of 18 monasteries. The assembly began with the celebration of Orthros and the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, September 21.
It was also attended by another 6 hierarchs of the Archdiocese and opened with a video address from Patriarch Bartholomew, in which he noted that “Orthodox monasteries express Christianity authenticity.” The keynote address was offered by Abp. Elpidophoros, in which he spoke of the monastery as a place of silence and prayer; the monastery as a place of obedience and humility; and, the monastery as a model of the angelical life, but especially the evangelical life.
Photo: staticflickr.com
Speaking of monasteries as places of prayer, the Archbishop concluded: “Therefore, my first paternal reminder to you is that your monastery should be primarily and predominantly be a place of refuge and refreshment for the weary and worried souls of our pious faithful. Before any word of advice or instruction, and beyond any word of correction or admonishment, your prayer and compassion should be their greatest protection and consolation.”
Speaking of monasteries as places of obedience and humility, he concluded: “Dear friends, our faithful may see us as spiritual elders and leaders, but we should constantly confess that we are the worst of sinners. As we profess before Holy Communion at every Divine Liturgy, my humble exhortation to you is that we all recall the words of St. Paul to his disciple Timothy: The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost (1 Tim. 1:15).”
And speaking of monasteries as the angelical life, Abp. Elpiodophoros stated: “Although monastics often take pride in and promote the fact that the celibate life is the angelical life, it is helpful to remember that monasticism is above all the evangelical life. Like all baptized Christians, we are called to bear the cross and follow Christ (Luke 14:27). We have exactly the same vocation as all Christians, but we simply live His commandments in a different way, learning to love as a community instead of within a marriage or family.”
Abp. Elpidophoros’ entire keynote address can be read on the site of the Greek Archdiocese.
Other presentations included Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta on the regulations of the monasteries of the Archdiocese, Abbot Paisios of St. Anthony’s Monastery on “Monasticism: The Apostolic Life.” and Abbess Melani of the Monastery of St. John Chrysostom on “Commentary of the Orthodox Monastic Experience.”
Several points were raised during the following discussion, including “The beneficent presence of Elder Ephraim, former abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Philotheou on Mount Athos,” and “his great contribution to the spreading and strengthening of monasticism in the USA.”
Photo: goarch.org
Abp. Elpidophoros celebrated the feast of the Transfiguration at St. Anthony’s Monastery in August, where he also noted the God-pleasing role of Elder Ephraim: “Here in Arizona, God gave his blessing and permission to a holy elder to come, Elder Ephraim. He found a desert, a spiritual desert, a thirsty desert, and he made the barren wilderness of the desert, arable… I would like to publicly express my gratitude to Elder Ephraim, who has brought forth many children, sons and daughters, of whom he can boast in Heaven.”
The assembly culminated with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday by Archbishop Elpidophoros together with the abbots of the monasteries.
It was also decided that the next monastic assembly would take place October 9-11, 2020 at the Sacred Monastery of the Life-giving Spring in Fresno, California on the theme: “The spiritual inheritance of the blessed Elder Joseph the Cave-dweller and his offering to Orthodox monasticism in America.”
