Sophia - Melkite Eparchy of Newton

A Monastic LifeRenew a Steadfast SpiritWithin Meby Marshall Toufic RoseTThere are six eastern catholicmonasteries in the United States.One of them, Our Lady ofSolitude Cloister and Retreat, is in theEparchy of Newton. In May 2007, I visitedthe Cloister as an observer betweenthe feasts of Ascension and Pentecost.The Cloister is located on a forty acrefarm in the “Endless Mountain” sectionof northern Pennsylvania.The life as practiced by the monasticcommunity focuses on public and privateprayer and on simplicity of living. Eachday there are five public services (DivineLiturgy and the Hours). The communitysupports itself by operating a farm makinggoat-based dairy products, and a giftshop with imported icons, books, prayerropes, CDs, and DVDs, etc. In additionto the Cloister, there is a retreat facilityallowing individuals and families to partakein the prayerful life lived by themonks. Finally, the monks provide outreachin their rural setting, instructingcatechumens, and assisting all who cometheir way.The monastic community is a relativelyyoung one, established in AD 2000.Manual labor focuses both on supportingthe community (farm chores) andrenovating the existing structures. Thisadds a second “mission” for the community:a pioneering spirit!The Monastic HorologionTo understand the life at Our Lady ofSolitude Cloister and Retreat, one mustlook at the Daily schedule:Sun Mon-Sat Activity7:30am 7:00am First Hour withMagnification of theTheotokos followedby Third Hour(Sunday only)9:00am 9:00am Great and GrandSilence ends10:30am 9:00am Divine and HolyLiturgy followed bySixth Hour(except Sunday)12:00pm 12:00pm Dinner followedby rest1:30pm Assigned work(except Sunday)5:00pm 4:30pm Farm work34 SOPHIA • Winter 20086:30pm 6:30pm7:45pm 7:45pm9:00pm 9:00pmVespersSupperCompline Great andGrand Silence beginsI arrive at the Retreat House on aFriday evening at about 6:15pm. Aftera quick blessing from the Superior,Hieromonk Angelus, I'm given aPsalter, a volume of the Pentacostarian,the May volume of the Menaion, and aHorologion. At this point, the RetreatMaster, Father Gabriel, rings the bellindicating that Vespers is about tobegin, and we proceed upstairs to theChapel of St. Benedict.During Vespers and the “little” Hours,there are extended readings from thePsalms – the Kathisma. For the first fewdays, the monks chant these by themselves.Then, they ask me to participate.As I read some of the verses, I catch occasionalglimpses of the monks slightlywincing – as they have never heard someonewith such a profound lack of tonalquality and complete lack of cadence.(During Lent, Reader Fred at St. Georgevolunteered to teach me how to chant, butI declined his offer. Note to self: the nexttime Reader Fred makes such an offer,accept.) Nonetheless, each evening weeagerly sing the Phos Hilaron (“Oh,Joyful Light …”).After Vespers, it is time for supper. Afterthe blessing, Father Gabriel begins readingfrom Scripture. (During my time at theCloister, the readings were from the bookof Leviticus concerning the preparation ofthe sacrifices on the altar. Listening to theverses, I couldn't help but think about the“bloodless sacrifice” offered for us byChrist.) When the Superior rings the bell,we hear the reading from The GreatHorologion concerning the feast or saintof the new day, and begin to eat. Finally,there is a reading from a spiritual work.On days in which meat is allowed, nored meat, only chicken, may be eaten.The monks do not drink wine, but ondays in which wine would be allowed,they drink goat milk. With respect to themonastic diet, owing to the small size ofthe community an oikonomia (“economy”)is in effect: since meals are madewith the farm goods produced by themonks, the monks' diet is heavy in dairyproducts: eggs, goat milk products(cheese, puddings, and so on) – I recommendthe pistachio goat milk pudding.The farm also produces honey and maplesyrup, so these feature prominently in thediet as well. (Because the monks labor onthe farm with machinery, there is a secondoikonomia in effect: hair and beardsare kept trimmed.)I am assigned the “Penthouse cell” inthe Retreat House, but a more accuratetitle might be “Attic cell”. (Actually, youclimb through the attic to get to the cell.)The cell gives a good approximation ofboth a simple and pioneering lifestyle: thecell is 7' by 14' with an angled ceilingranging from 7' at its height to 4' at theedges. The floor is unfinished particleboard and the walls are unfinished wood.There isn't a cabinet; instead, there are sixhooks in the wall to hang clothes. There isa stool, a desk with a lamp, a bookshelf,and a nightstand with an oil lamp. Thereis a 6'-long cot beneath a beautiful iconiccrucifix. There are also two lovely icons:above the window, an icon of theTransfiguration, and, on the nightstand, atriptych icon featuring the Theotokos,Deisis, and an Archangel. I'm happy tosay that at no time did i mourn the lack ofa telephone, television, radio, or Internetconnection. This speaks to the power ofthe monks' vision of a simple lifestyle.After unpacking, the bell rings forCompline. At the end of the Office, theSuperior gives a final blessing and theGreat and Grand Silence begins. I nowhave time to contemplate the readingsfor tomorrow's Liturgy before sayingmy bedtime prayers in blessed silence!The next morning, we begin withFirst Hour and Magnification of theTheotokos. I have found that living in“the world” there is never enough timeto prepare for the Divine Liturgy. Thereare always distractions both the nightand morning before. Not so at theCloister. After First Hour, I have timeto study the readings for the Liturgy,and say all of the preparatory prayersin the Holy Things for the Holy!