From the Little Mountain takes you through a year at the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in West Virginia. This video is an attempt to portray some of the beauty and struggle of monastic life using quotes from the Scriptures and the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church. Insights about monasticism from one of the senior monks at the monastery are given as you are visually taken through the Church liturgical year and the changing seasons in the mountains. This is a unique documentary of an Orthodox monastery in the 21st century, but the imagery and principles set forth are as ancient (and relevant) as those written by the 6th century instructor of monks, Abba Dorotheos.
DVD, Color, 32 minutes
Region free - will play in any country.
English
While exploring Orthodoxy in 2009 (and in the handfull of years following our baptism) this video ran constantly in a loop on the DVD player in our small apt.
It was comforting and grounding to hear, see and feel the cycle of the church year and monastic life among those at Holy Cross Monastery. It filled our space and lives with reverence and great peace.
It still does when I play it or listen online and hear the familiar sounds of raindrops, goats, prayers, prostrations, narration, and bells; those beautiful, towered bells.
Our small, rural parish even ran it in a loop while we participated in a community-offering/-services display at the county fair one summer. It freed us to greet and speak to visitors while bringing the sights and sounds of Orthodoxy to a quiet corner of our display area.
Having visited you briefly with my husband, added new voices and faces to my heart's recall of Holy Cross; as has the subsequent DVD entitled "New Men."
Thank you for your lives and prayers; which serve as a witness and encouragement to us. Know that we hold you in our hearts and prayers.
