The Monastery, looking north towards the Village of Dockton Laboring to Receive the Gift of Compunction If we are to receive the gift of compunction, we must be committed to working for it, even laboring day and night for it, that the spirit of compunction take possession of our whole
The Land From the very first meeting, James Bryant proved to be the perfect architect for us. Willing to put his own ego aside, he helped me realize my long standing dream to design a monastery that would look like a small Norwegian village. The church, which we would dedicate
Vashon Island, as seen from Point Defiance Park in Tacoma The Gift of Land On August 1st of 1992, having exhausted all our resources, we announced during what was to be our last Monastery Pilgrimage, our decision to leave Vashon Island. The monthly rent for the old farmhouse had
Click on photos to enlarge If we are to learn humility, we must be quick to reproach ourselves, and avoid correcting others. With love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon Saturday: The Planting of a Monastery (chapter 12) I lectured before two, two hour classes, at TCC Tacoma Community College, Tacoma, WA.
Christianity Beyond the SurfaceMany people embrace Orthodox Christianity with great enthusiasm, after having suffered the poverty of a materialistic world view. The beauty of the divine services brings a certain elegance into their weekly schedule, and the adornment of their homes with icons introduces an exotic element into a previously
Natural Disasters and the Human Condition After re-reading my post, and hearing from some trusted readers, I would like to clarify my thoughts concerning yesterday’s posting. I’m deeply sorry my article did not more clearly impart the Orthodox view of cause and effect. God does not cause natural disasters, we
God is in Control of the Forces of Nature The massively destructive and deadly hurricane that has plowed into the east coast of the United States should not have been a surprise to any of us. How could we expect there should not be consequences for a nation that has
Together with my brother, Abba Melake Birhanat Are these the End Times? The cultural and spiritual warfare that is taking place between the “Christian” West, and the Islamic Middle East, together with the extreme climate changes taking place around the world, have become a source of concern for many. Coupled
Preaching on the occasion of Saint Demetrios Day, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Seattle The Island of my Salvation Following my return from the Holy Mountain we were faced with mounting bills, rising rent costs, little income, and my personal desire to return to Mt. Athos to continue my
Vashon Island, in the Salish Sea The Return to the United StatesAfter having spent almost a month in Greece, including ten days on Mount Athos, the return to the United States, via New York City, was major culture shock. I found myself grieving for the loss of the simple life