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

A TIME OF NEW BEGINNINGS 27OCTOBER 7, TUESDAYI have been trying to master some of the linguistic aspects oflife here: the proper responses during the Kodes and Office, andthe proper answers to prayers. I am trying to write them down andto rehearse them. There are any number of monks here who aregood at teaching this. I am just familiarizing myself with life in themonastery as much as possible so that I can be, if not a competentparticipant, at least one not so incompetent as to be jarring anddisturbing for those among whom I am living and praying. I hopethat by this sign of good intention and zeal to enter into their commonprayer life I will also give the monks occasion to be more receptiveto me and more forthcoming regarding the questions I askand the needs I have.In the meantime, I am getting used to the monastic diet. It ismore or less the same here as it was in St. Macarius: the felafel beanwith rice and tea—hot tea by the glass—always. Everyone alwayswants to put far too much sugar in it. The monks look at me quizzicallywhen I say, “No sugar.” I’m becoming reluctant to say “Nosugar” anymore, and I’m beginning to permit at least one spoonful,when I note that the monks are putting four or five tablespoons ofsugar into their tea! The tea, the rice, and the beans, as well as thecoarse bread, which is very delicious, are the common diet here. Onoccasion, there are slices of tomato or slices of cucumber to go withit. A very simple diet, but very tasty, even though it’s repeated twicea day. But what will they do when they have a feast?Blessings from a Cave-DwellerOCTOBER 10, FRIDAYWhen I made the day-long walk to Deir el Baramous, theabbot of the monastery informed me that I should seek a blessingfrom an elderly monk who has been living in a nearby cave for thelast several years. “Pilgrims,” he said, “should seek blessings.”So I was escorted to the mouth of the cave and waited for thedesert monk to appear. He comes out every few days to pick up theportion of food which the monks leave for him. He came out and,following my nearly liturgical instructions, I grabbed him by theankle and said, “Pray, Abuna, a blessing.” He said to me—with the