Vocations

28 June 1999 19:33

Here is a thought provoking letter from an Orthodox priest.

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

If I may offer a reflection about our Orthodox monastic life, I would tell you that we are blessed with MANY vocations (even here in this material land of America!). Recently sixteen new monasteries in the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate have been opened in this country and all are thriving and some crowded to overflowing!—and this is in addition to the older monasteries we have had for years!

These vocations come in spite of the fact that our monastic (consecrated life) life is VERY little changed since the time of St. Anthony the Great and hence very difficult. We keep the long monastic prayer rule (the Hours) in common and another (sometimes longer one) in private, wear the same monastic habit (which has changed little since at least 600) and has no real « witness value » but is simply our clothes and for mortification, eat simple vegetarian meals, work long hours in quiet, and have no form of dispensation from monastic vows and tonsure (as in the Western Church)! Why are the young attracted to such a life: Because it is a well-defined life-style that leads a person to holiness—and union with Christ! Very simply: It works!—May God have the praise for this!

On the other hand, I see many religious women and men in the Western Church (Roman Communion) in America and notice that their life-style differs little from people in the world around them. In short, they seem to look and act very much like their worldly counterparts who are (perhaps) married or not even believers! Why would a American youth choose such a life-style? The reality is THEY DON’T!

I think young people are looking for « the real thing » rather then « having it their way » (the Burger King’s slogan). What young people today want is to follow closely in the footsteps of Our Blessed Lord and be reasonably sure that if they keep the monastic rule and live the life, they will grow in godliness and holiness and reach a level of sanctity! If they wanted simply to be social workers, they would have done so in the world!

We Orthodox say that there are two ascetical ways of life and most people are called to one or the other: the married life or the monastic life. Even our candidates for the priesthood must choose one or the other of these ways of life before they are ordained to major orders…they must choose to be married or a monk (a definite life-style!) not simply celibacy without a style of life to support it. And you know what?—(again) It works! We have vocations to the priesthood that we cannot find enough parishes for!

Just thought I’d share these jumbled thoughts with you—for whatever they may be worth! May God keep us all in His love and grant us to follow Him more perfectly!

Humbly,
Father Abbot Gregory+
(Byelorussian Eparchy/Ecumenical Patriarchate)