6 posts tagged “monastery”

This is from the Vosoki Decani Monastery in Kosovo, At first I thought the candles where floating Hogwarts style, but then my daughter saw that it is a very large, but airy chandelier. My husband noticed that these candles must have been lit at about the same time, or they have a very fast monk!

"Visoki Decani Monastery is situated in the western part of the UN administered Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohia. It was built between 1327 and 1335 by the Serbian medieval king St. Stephen of Decani and was dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord. The monastery is settled in the picturesque valley of the Bistrica river surrounded by the mountains and forests of the Prokletije mountain range It is the largest and best preserved medieval monastery in Serbia. During its turbulent history the Monastery was an important spiritual centre with developed artistic and intellectual activities. Although the monastery buildings suffered damage from the Turkish occupation, the church has been completely preserved with beautiful 14th century fresco paintings. Today a young brotherhood of 30 brethren lives in the monastery continuing the centuries old tradition of the past. The brotherhood has developed various activities: wood carving, icon painting, book publishing and is also active in the missionary work. The beautiful monastic services are served according to the typicon of Mount Athos." (from this site) 

Here's a wonderful slideshow from Holy Archangel's Greek Monastery in Kendalia, Texas.

When I went with a friend to The Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pa this spring, my experience far exceeded my expectations. I was anticipating Fr. Thomas Hopko being there for many of the services as he lives nearby and I was told he was in town. It was truly a blessing being in his presence. But I was not expecting how natural that lifestyle was for me the 6 days I was there. I know it's different for guests than the nuns who live there, but I found myself waking up in anticipation of morning prayers with the nuns whose voices mingling with the beauty of their completely icon covered, rustic A-framed chapel, lifted my spirit in prayer.

I usually stood in front of this icon of the Theotokos during the services. I've always loved the icons where Christ and Mary's cheeks are touching.  It is such a tender picture of the love Christ has for His Church - us, and His desire to be close to us. I also found myself staring at her neck and somehow I understood better her purity and submission to Christ. Her bowed posture is so submissive, humble, attentive, respectful and loving towards her Lord. I hope to learn this from her.

My friend and I were also warmly received by the nuns who shared their days with us in the garden, the kitchen, and walking tours. I was even greatly blessed by talking with Mother Christophora, the Abess, in their beautiful library/parlor on my last day there. It was very hard for me to come home as I felt I left my heart there in the chapel in front of the Panagia, beside the Samaritan Woman.

Yay, my sidebar(s) are back. Apparently my template no longer hosts a single sidebar to the right, so I selected this one. I think I like it better anyway - more trinitarian.

Hopefully I will find out how to do hyperlinks, I think you call them, to make referencing easier.

The current photos to the right are from a trip the kids and I took to St. Michael's Skete

in northern New Mexico last month. Our friends, Father Antonio and Matushka Elizabeth Perdomo, and their three girls invited us along with them as they were on their way to visit family in Colorado. On the way we visited Father John (in my profile photo) and their friends at Holy Trinity Antiochian Orthodox Church in Santa Fe. The weather, the views, the friends and new people we met, the monks and their live-in guests, and of course the Vespers and Liturgy services were wonderfully spiritually refreshing.

This isn't finished as I need to research hyperlinks.

The rest of the photos are in my New Mexico Monastery "collection". I'll probably add some more as soon as I transfer them to this computer.