Our Weekend of 3 Monasteries, 1 Ordination and 1 Graduation of Students

Mr. Husband and I went on a lovely trip
to upstate New York this weekend.
We stayed at a Greek monastery dedicated
to St. Nektarios.
It was lovely.
I did not take pictures as I was new
and did not want to bother anyone in asking permission
to take pictures.
But you can see a few on their website.
It was cold and rainy when we were there.
The Greek monasteries have men and women houses
where they stay.
I had a room to myself and found this book in
the room and began to read it.
I was so taken by it!
And I immediately looked for it online and
was determined to order it...
when the next day I found it in their bookstore!
An older woman and a younger woman and
I talked in the morning after breakfast
and the older woman said that this book
on Abbess Thaisia was the first one she read there.
*
It was such a joy to have some time there.
I had many people on my heart to pray for
and lit lots of candles at the beginning of the
in-the-middle-of-the-night prayers and liturgy.
*
Then Mr. Husband,
after getting some wonderful things in the bookstore
and talking with my newly met monastery going friends,
we had lunch and then
were on our way further up north.
*
We stayed near to Jordanville, the Holy Trinity monastery and seminary
 and went to most of vigil at a nearby church.
The next morning we went up to liturgy at
Jordanville itself.
I had never been there before and was eager to see it,
since I have various friends who have been.
There were many people there for liturgy,
many there for the graduation and ordination of a young man
to the diaconate who we know.
I saw many warm and kind clergy,
the woman monastics were especially kind to me
and I felt this warm joy at seeing the ordination; it was a really special time.
And right in the middle of the liturgy I saw this icon of
St. Xenia of Petersburg:


It was the original of the icon of
this dear and holy Saint that I first got
years ago at my first church in BC:
I have a small reproduction of this icon of St. Xenia.
It was the first icon I ever bought, the first I ever had.
She kept coming to mind after I saw it,
so much so that I bought it with the birthday money I had
at the time.
So it was a very special experience to see the original icon!
*
Mr. Husband and I stayed for the graduation of the
students and celebrated the wonderful day with
some of our friends who had come
for the same events.
*
We also enjoyed browsing in the bookstore! :)
By the time I was at the first monastery I was already
feeling more 'myself' than I had in a long time.
It was a real blessing.

 

The next day it was sunny and warm!
We drove in the beautiful verdant hills of the
Catskill mountains and went to
a small monastery that Mr. Husband and I have
been to twice before.
I got two lovely icons there and some thick candles
which is a blessing as I have them in my kitchen.

The drive was so beautiful.
Mr. Husband and I both are drawn to the beauty
of the countryside.

We saw the octagon house that we had seen before.
You can see the baby blanket I was working on
reflecting through the car window in this picture.

 

We had dinner at an Italian restaurant in the countryside
a couple of hours after leaving the last of the three
monasteries we visited.
*
It was a really wonderful time.
Also very tiring.
My sleep schedule is a bit off and I am resting a lot
from the trip.
*
I am so grateful that God gave me the strength to go!

Wonderful Weekend...

Back from the monastery.
It was wonderful.
Always feels a bit disorienting to come back.
*
(ps: photos below are from my parent's house
i.e. not the monastery).



The quiet at the monastery is very refreshing.
I was there over St. John the Russian's day -
just found this Akathist to him.
*
So peaceful to get away
and be in such a beautiful place of prayer.
*
Peaceful,
got advice and felt hopeful,
and that it was a joyful time.

This picture is from the coffee shop I
met the photographer in
on Friday.

A nice place,
very retro, urban, hip - familiar to me
to coffee shops in Ottawa.

I was really encouraged
at the monastery
about the
wedding planning.
Just keep it simple
focus on what is actually going on
the Orthodox wedding service
don't worry about what culture wants to
dictate that the wedding be
and be present to the prayers.
I felt so encouraged.
I know this is what I want.
A wedding that is prayerful
with God's blessing.
*
On a smaller note,
I got a lovely small red-jeweled Cross necklace there
that I hope to wear with my dress;
I also got some nice presents
for others. :)

 

I know I am in for a big transition
but the time at the monastery
helped me remember
the purpose of marrying my Orthoman
and the hope in Christ
and in the prayers of holy people and holy monastics
to surround us.
*
I really love visiting the cemetery there and
knowing that one day I hope
that the cemetery stone will speak of
my future husband's name and my name
and that God will have mercy on us
whose life will pass so quickly...

The beginning of 34 has been beautiful

Today went as planned.

Matins in the morning;

breakfast with my Grandmother.

Lunch with family.

Not the best picture;

but I am glad I have it;

it is a lunch that my Aunt always has for us:

boiled egg

good bread, jams, peanut butter

roggebrood (a small dense Dutch rye bread), cheese,

milk, coffee

banana.

*

How we laugh at my Aunt's house;

talking about my Mom and Cousins growing up years;

and the grand-babies of two of my Aunt's grandchildren.

I made the roasted root vegetables for my family's Christmas dinner;

this time I added a parsnip;

it turned out really well.

*

I got some special gifts -

some small spoons and tea towel that were my Oma's.

An icon of the Annunciation from my Godmother;

my ever present composition notebooks

(always have one with me)

Dutch soup mix and some simple delft blue egg cups

(for lunches like the one my Aunt had for us).

I must remember to show you all a beautiful

hand painted ornament of the Nativity

that my sister gave me from Romania.

*

A most wonderful day full of seeing many people I love.

The first day of my 34th year.

I have no idea what is in store for me this year

but I know I will need God for every step of the way.

*

I am off to the monastery for a few days.

I thank God that I have this opportunity.

God is rich in mercy.

Praying that as this year draws to a close that God

will comfort all of us as we face a new year

with all that it will contain.

God is with us.

A Saturday Filled with God's Mercy

Today was full of God's mercy and goodness.

The Virgin Mary Consoler

is such a wonderful monastery.

*

I was able to briefly speak with the Abbess there

and was very blessed.

*

God continues to pour out His mercy.

Here is one of the two cats that were at the monastery!

So cute.

*

Being able to be in the monastery chapel

and with other pilgrims was so beautiful.

There was a baptism there today as well

and the monastery not only served our group lunch

but later the whole group in for the baptism.

I thought the food,

with the festive cross on the

Lenten pasta

was beautiful.

*

Monastics sure know how to make Lenten food

into a feast!

*

And my heart continued to be gladdened

when I walked into my church for vespers

and there was the icon of St. Nicholas.

*

Oh Father Nicholas the Saintly,

how we love you!

Friday of St. Barbara, soon St. Nicholas

Today (old calendar) is St. Barbara's Day.

I am so glad for this.

Soon St. Nicholas Day;

one of my favourite days of the year

(and my sister's birthday!)

*

Tomorrow God willing the monastery trip.

*

I am depending very much on St. Nicholas' prayers.

Keeping my lampada lit

seeking to pray

prayers of others

are keeping me afloat.

Took a long bus ride to a job agency today;

did the tests for clerical and data entry;

did very well.

*

Fixed my purse that broke just today;

got the handle restitched for only five dollars;

for an awesome purse that I use a lot

this is a good price.

*

I am still struggling with anxiety about the health tests

I am waiting for results for.

Still having insomnia every night because the meds I am on

for the November volcanic face outbreak;

meds done at the end of this month.

The last few nights when I wake and realize once again

insomnia

and I go to stand, I almost fall immediately to the floor.

I know what this means my friends;

insomnia and stress.

Not to worry though,

I've lived through this before.

AND I have meds for the insomnia

so I have resources and am still getting sleep,

just not enough sleep yet.

*

And I have gathered many good tips for stress

(of course I welcome all ideas).

So far here is what I am doing to proactively take care of myself

during this time of job searching and health uncertainty:

1. Pray and ask others for prayers

2. Monasteries

3. Eat as well as possible. The root veggies by the way were fabulous.

Trying to eat protein, good vegetables

and fruits and hearty bread daily.

Avoid sugar and caffeine,

stay hydrated - water, herbal teas, juice.

4. Deep breathing

5. Lampada lit day and night

6. Talking to family and friends and asking for prayer

7. Regular contact with my church family

8. Being thankful and seeing and creating beauty every day

9. Constantly bringing my mind back to the fact

that I am in God's hands and care.

*

I thank God.

And now I am going to make the cakes for St. Nicholas day!!

Baking - so therapeutic and creative!

*

Let's keep praying for one another.

*

God is with us.

God is so good to us

I had a great visit at the monastery.

*

I came back to learn that one of my

dear friends is in the hospital.

Please pray for her.

*

Learned also that one of my classmates from years back

passed away on Tuesday from cancer.

He leaves a godly wife and 4 children behind.

Lord have mercy.

*

It is so wonderful to have monasteries to go to pray

and to have them pray for such needs as these.

Settling in for Spring

Had my first French class today.

Taking two part time classes;

ended up doing Mon-Wed nights

and Tues-Thurs mornings!

But one thing at a time.

I must try really hard

but

have some relaxation time as well.

A tough balance.

We had Cemetery Day at my Church's Cemetery

yesterday.

One of our beloved parishioners

who died in 2006 in her very early 40's

is buried there.

So every year for Cemetery Day

I bring my Mexican blanket and spread it by her grave

and myself and others sit on the blanket

and eat by her grave

and sing Christ is Risen to her.

I will always miss her and I know I am not alone

in asking now for her prayers.

For a beautiful example of asking the prayers of those

who have gone to the Lord before us,

I encourage you to listen to this podcast about Fr. George Calciu

by Fredrica Matthewes-Green.

I am reading some great books -

The Jesus Prayer by Fredrica Matthewes-Green is one of these.

***

The trip to the monastery was really wonderful.

So much so that I don't have a single picture!

I got a lot of wise counsel from one of the Sisters there

that I will be pondering over the next days and weeks.

I find it so important to go to monasteries

for counsel

for refreshment

and to be surrounded by the monastics' prayers.

***

Christ is Risen!

Three of the Icons I got at the Monastery

Great Martyr and Healer - St. Panteleimon.

The Holy Theotokos, Birthgiver of God.

St. John the Theologian and St. Prochorus.

Through their prayers we can learn

to keep silence before God

and know God's love.

++++++

I love getting icons from the monasteries I pilgrimage to.

It feels like taking the blessing home with me.

They were blessed today at the liturgy (old calendar) for the

Nativity of the Birthgiver of God.

Monastere Vierge Marie La Consolatrice

It was a dream come true to be at this monastery

with many from my home parish.

The protection there is felt, as well as their dependence on God.

The air was so clear.

The Abbess talked to us as a group and answered many questions.

One of the life-long parishioners, the next day,

said that he learned more in those few hours than

he has in years.

It was such a relief to pray vespers in their chapel.

The prayers, the incredible beauty, the protection and love

that is there is truly of heaven.