Look at this!

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Tue 1 June 2004 7:48 pm

Lord Have Mercy!

Seraphim Reeves · Post by **Seraphim Reeves** » Wed 2 June 2004 1:50 pm

I find the pokgrov website very saddening. While I don't know enough about the particular situations mentioned by the people writing their upset letters to that site, what is obvious is that they have a disdain for monasticism in principle, and this disdain seems to stem from ignorance about Orthodoxy itself.

The Holy Scriptures are filled with hard sayings. According to our Lord, perfection is to be found in abandoning a worldly life and following Him. He says plainly that anyone who places even their own parents or blood relations ahead of Him, is unworthy of Him. It was He Who said "let the dead bury the dead."

St.James writes in his Epistle, that the love of this world is hateful to God. St.Paul writes guidelines about modesty which if taken seriously by enough people, would put the cosmetics industry out of business.

Monasticism is simply an attempt to faithfully observe the calling directed at all Christians (ie. there is not one Christianity for monks, another for laymen.) As such, it is a sign of contradiction against all worldliness, just as the Saviour Himself was. Perhaps it is not surprising then, that monasticism is so liable to be misunderstood and subject to scorn.

I was very disappointed to see parish clergy chiming in with the laity. While such things do not definitively prove anything, they are accidental signs, evidences of the basic state of much of the GOA and similar groups.

Seraphim

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Wed 2 June 2004 4:15 pm

While such things do not definitively prove anything, they are accidental signs, evidences of the basic state of much of the GOA and similar groups.

There was a very anti monastic spirit in parts of the Russian Church during Tsarist times, to the point of persecuting monastics. Look at the life of Saint Paisius who lives outside of Russia. He wasn't even allowed to send patristic literature published at his monastery back into the Russian empire. The bishops thought Elder Leonid of Optina was introducing inovations and tried to stop his eldership.

In the GOA there are many parish priest who support Elder Ephraim and monasticsim. The church of Greece (state) has seen a number of saintly elders in recent times... so there is more than meets the eye.

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Wed 2 June 2004 4:53 pm

Lord Have Mercy!

PFC Nektarios · Post by **PFC Nektarios** » Fri 4 June 2004 11:20 am

On Athos, parents cannot see their children once they enter the Monastic Life or visit them, the way Parents do to their Children who entered Monasticism here in America.

Really?

In Christ
Nektarios

Nektarios14 · Post by **Nektarios14** » Fri 4 June 2004 3:42 pm

"He who loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me...."

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Fri 4 June 2004 5:16 pm

Lord Have Mercy!