Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

A TIME OF CONSECRATION 149great figures of the twentieth century who brought a renewal to thisChurch and a certain new vibrancy to the religious life. Directly orindirectly, his ministry as monk and abbot has been part of the conversionstory of many of the present leaders of the Coptic Church.He is regarded as a living saint, even by the monks of his ownHouse. Although he has been living just next door to me for allthese months, I have not seen him until now because he has beenill—not actually bedridden, but not out-of-doors, and not meetingany of the guests who come to his monastery. But I will now have achance to meet him, and I am grateful for this opportunity.Of Novices Old and NewToday six aspiring monks were given the white galabeya (habit), asign of their probational acceptance into the monastery. One ofthem was Brother Wagee who has sometimes been assigned to meon a day-by-day basis to execute any little tasks that I might needto be carried out for my studies. Brother Wagee also brings memessages. If any of the monks here wish to meet with me, or if theywant to provide insights, they often send word through BrotherWagee. So I was glad to see that today he was formally accepted tobegin his monastic life. In addition, several new novices have comerecently to begin discerning their vocation.The old novices, those about to become monks, will now spendthe day and the coming night in prayer in the monastic church.They will be given a new name tomorrow at their monastic consecration.As they spend the night in the church, they will be visitedby their brother monks, one by one, who will “give them a word”to assist them, to direct them, to guide them, for the rest of theirmonastic life. It’s a wonderful idea. The novices are quite excitedabout this night of visitation, the night in which they will receiveall at once, by the good will and the wisdom of their older brothers,all that they will need for their formation henceforth. PopeShenouda has already indicated that one of the novices will begiven the name “Myron,” that is, he is to be named after the HolyMyron, since the monastic consecration will coincide with the consecrationof the holy oils of the Coptic Church. A great deal is happeningall at once, it seems, deep in the heart of Lent in thismonastery.