Monastery News
On Friday, March 14/27, the feast-day of St. Benedict of Nursia, the father of western monasticism, Riassaphore-monks David and Aaron made their life vows and were tonsured into the Small Schema by Abbot Gabriel. The tonsure of a new monk...
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On Friday, March 20, during the Fourth Week of Great Lent and the week of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, golden cupolas and crosses were installed atop the domes of the new Holy Cross Monastery church. The cupolas with...
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One of the defining features of Lent is the penitent prayer of St. Ephraim. It is said at every weekday service, even at the smaller office of the hours. Of the three petitions that comprise this short prayer, this final one is the most important. As the parable of the Publican and Pharisee teaches us, we can have all the virtues, but if we do not see ourselves as sinners, we are spiritually dead. By stretching us to our limits, the season of Lent trains us to see ourselves as we really are—sinners.