Cabramatta, New South Wales, October 13, 2022
Photo: soc.org.au
The state of Serbian Orthodox monasticism in Australia and New Zealand has fallen from where it was decades ago, and the time has to come to make serious strides to revive the ascetic life, the local Serbian hierarch write in a new epistle to his clergy, monastics, and faithful.
The diocese’s four monasteries need to “take the place that belongs to them in their spiritual mission of enlightenment and transformation of the souls of the faithful, as well as in the construction of the Church of St. Sava on the Fifth Continent,” His Grace Bishop Siluan writes.
“Helping our monasteries begins first of all with our correct attitude towards them, with a correct understanding of their place, importance and role in the life of the Church and our people,” he emphasizes.
Over time, due to various factors, the number of monastics in the diocesan monasteries has waned, with a gradual loosening of the monastic order and discipline. “To think that monasticism can be maintained in such an atmosphere is, simply put, self-delusion,” His Grace writes.
People have begun to seek spiritual strength elsewhere, and the monastics have even begun to feel like strangers in their own homes.
But monasteries should be first and foremost spiritual refuges, places of rest and healing for burdened souls, where we can introduce children to Christ and His eternal truth. Therefore, we must leave worldly, vain commotion behind as soon as we hit monastery gate, aware of where we are.
“We have often witnessed spiritual insensitivity towards this sacred space, and mistakes that people make out of ignorance,” Bp. Siluan writes, mentioning smoking and littering with cigarette butts on monastery grounds as one example.
But monastics never stop praying, even while the rest of us need a break, so we must support them so they can spiritually support us, His Grace exhorts. “If monasticism disappears, what will we do in the world of modern challenges and twisted tendencies and radical revisions?”
In an effort to reinvigorate the monasteries under his care, the Serbian hierarch issued a set of preliminary rules of conduct:
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Be aware that we’re entering a sacred space, with the relics of saints, where the Mother of God watches over us, and adapt our behavior to the sacred
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Smoking is strictly prohibited
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Be decently dressed, especially in the church: men in long sleeves and pants; women in long sleeves, skirts or dresses, and head coverings
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Free use of alcohol is prohibited. Alcohol is limited to the traditional hospitality of one glass with coffee, and candy
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Meals are to be eaten in silence, listening to a spiritual reading
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Get the abbot’s or abbess’ blessing before any undertaking
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Get abbot’s or abbess’ blessing to stay in a monastery for up to 3 days; the blessing of the bishop is needed for a longer stay
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A blessing is needed to use monastery premises/objects
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The rules remain in force during public gatherings
His Grace concludes: “We invite all those who feel the call to monasticism, who would like to dedicate their lives to God, and thus to their family, to go boldly and decisively to the monastery… May the Lord bless this work of love of the people of St. Sava on the Fifth Continent and our effort towards the spiritual renewal of our sanctuaries.”
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