EXPERIENCE OF SPIRITUAL WORK
Labor is a special type of pilgrimage, when a person not only prays, but also works in the monastery along with the monks for the glory of God. Through labor in holy monasteries they bring repentance, beg for what they ask for, and thank God.
The abbess of the Vvedensky convent in Ivanovo, abbess Maria (Perepecha), talks about the labor:
Your free choice
Usually pilgrims come to the monastery for two or three days to pray with the monastics at the service, confess and receive communion. If someone stays in the monastery longer, then, according to the rules of the Holy Fathers, he is given obedience.
But no one can be forced to do this. On Athos, for example, when a pilgrim arrives on the island, he is immediately told that there is an opportunity to help the monks in the temple or with housework. They will only say it once and no one will remind you again. And in our monasteries, sometimes they “offer” to work in such a way that you cannot refuse. They leave no choice. I think this is more of a Soviet tradition than a Christian one. Collaboration is a purely voluntary matter.
Before becoming a nun, I had the opportunity to be a laborer in various monasteries. At the Pukhtitsa monastery I served obedience in the ironing room. In Zhirovitskaya, I worked in the kitchen. And in other monasteries, she had difficult work: she washed dishes, cast iron, floors, and was on duty at night. But most often she cleaned the temple - she cleaned the candlesticks, shook out the carpets. Physically, you might be tired, but your soul is so light, so joyful and gracious.
A person should perceive the very opportunity to work in a holy monastery as God’s mercy. Cleaning a club is one thing, cleaning a temple is another. The work seems to be the same, but the benefits for the soul cannot be compared.
Helping monasteries, especially women’s monasteries, is a godly and soul-saving matter. You can read in the “Fatherland” of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov about how one holy father tells a novice that those who give alms to nuns will receive a greater reward than those who give alms to the blind, lame and lepers. .
Once a priest from Belarus came to us, and I asked him to help us in the haymaking. He happily agreed, and later, when he returned from haymaking, he came up to me and told me a story: “Once I traveled to holy places and stopped at a nunnery. I was in a prayerful mood; I didn’t want to leave the church. Suddenly the sisters came up to me and asked me to help them with their chores. Then I refused them, but this made my soul so heavy that now I never refuse if they ask me to work.”
Some workers, on the contrary, say that because they are so busy, they do not have time to pray and read the Rule before communion. You definitely need to pray. First of all, prayer, and only then work.
Monks are required to attend all services. Workers pray at the Liturgy, but if they wish, they can also come to the Midnight Office. I give obediences to everyone so that they can be fulfilled after the service. It is very rare that you have to break this rule for the sake of some urgent work, but then your soul is heavy all day. As a rule, all obediences in monasteries are given according to the strength and personal inclinations of the workers. Some have a desire to help with haymaking, while others want to care for the sick and infirm.
With the blessing of the confessor
Many workers come to the monastery during their vacation to get away from the bustle of the city and work in the fresh air, so labor, although with a stretch, can still be called rest, which implies a change of activity.
But here the question arises: aren’t the family members against such a vacation? You need to explain your desire to your wife or husband in such a way as not to cause discontent in them. Our quarrels are not pleasing to the Lord. How then can we read the Lord’s Prayer? How to take communion? After all, it’s impossible to quarrel! I believe that a laborer can go to a monastery only with the blessing of his confessor. Not the kind of blessing they take before a pilgrimage, but a real one: first, consult, weigh the pros and cons together, and only then make plans for your vacation.
Workers, whether they are monks or not, will always gain the experience of prayer and the experience of spiritual labor for the sake of Christ. Such work begins with prayer, ends with prayer, and is carried out under the guidance of the clergy.
Returning to the world, the pilgrim will learn obedience to God's Providence, which for worldly people is manifested through various circumstances of life.
There is no greater obedience than obedience to the Church! And if we just wipe the floor in the house of the Lord with a rag, God will place it above any other work... And where can we rejoice in spirit, heart and all our thoughts, if not in her, where our Lord Our Lord Himself is always present with us! (St. Seraphim of Sarov)
What are the main reasons for voluntary leaving behind the monastery walls?
Monasticism can rightfully be considered one of the main sacraments of any religion, Orthodox or Catholic. It carries with it the desire to renounce all worldly things, to draw closer to Jesus and to dedicate oneself to the service of God.
Accepting monasticism is a responsible act. It is acceptable for people who are strong in soul, with a strong will to serve Christ. When a man does not find joy in everyday life, the decision to lock himself behind monastery walls will only increase his sorrows.
It is possible to accept monasticism only by breaking all ties with the surrounding society, completely renouncing everything mortal, devoting oneself to the service of God. The dictates of the soul and a strong desire are what bring a man closer to accepting monasticism. Here you need to work and adjust yourself.
In the monastery monastery everyone is always greeted good-naturedly, but until painful grievances from life in the world are resolved, the walls of the monastery will not help you, but will only worsen the situation. When entering a monastery, it is necessary to renounce all sympathies for ordinary life. If the desire to give one’s own destiny to the service of Christ is unshakable, then thoughts about life in a monastery are also beneficial.
Before deciding to become a monk, you need to think about whether you may still have some relatives who need support or help. Each person has an individual reason for coming to the monastery. The only thing that brings future monks together is following the way of life of Christ.
Sursky Ioannovsky Convent, Arkhangelsk region
The tiny monastery, where five sisters now live permanently, is in dire need of help. By some miracle, these brave women manage a large farm - several fields, two cows, a calf and chickens. Mother Mitrofania writes about this with genuine sincerity on the monastery’s website. In addition to agricultural activities, the restoration of a monastery destroyed during the Soviet years and the construction of a House of Mercy for widowed priests are underway here.
They get to Sura by train - first to Arkhangelsk, then by train to Karpogory, and from there by car, which mother can send. In addition to work and communication with sisters, workers will get to know the nature of the northern region, a real break from civilization and, if they arrive at the beginning of summer, white nights.
sura-monastery.ru
How to prepare yourself for monastic life
If you translate the word monk from Greek, you get the word “lonely.” In ancient times, such people were called monks. This word comes from the expression “other”. Staying in the monastery means not accepting unnecessary lusts and immorality, and not ignoring the whole world. Monasticism exists for the revival of the original without sinfulness and chastity.
Following the path of Christ is a difficult and painful lot, but you will gain a greater ability to perceive with joy all the adversities sent by the Lord. In addition, the monks pray every day for our imperfect light. It exists as long as prayer is heard in monasteries. The fateful goal of monastic service is prayer for all of us.
If a person lives among ordinary people and feels that this is not his place, that he feels in his heart the desire to retire to a monastic monastery, then he needs time to prepare to make the decisive choice of which life to choose.
To become a real monk you need:
- to be a true Christian;
- coming to church not out of formality, but to love and be imbued with all your soul in the divine service;
- respect prayer rules - morning and evening;
- recognize religious holidays;
- read books written about holy people from the history of monasticism.
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky stauropegial monastery, Arkhangelsk region
There are no volunteer programs on Solovki, but Orthodox men can come as workers from May 1 to September 30. First of all, the monastery needs painters, plasterers, electricians and carpenters. To sign up as a volunteer, you need to arrive as a pilgrim and receive a blessing. Workers live in rooms for 6–10 people with amenities on the floor.
You can get to Solovki from St. Petersburg or Moscow by Murmansk train to Kem station (from 3,000 rubles), and then by ship (1,600 rubles) or by plane from Arkhangelsk (about 6,000 rubles).
solovki-monastyr.ru
What to do if there are no parents left in the world?
Most parents in Rus' and in other Christian countries welcomed their children’s desire to go to a monastery. Such children were equated with prayer books for the benefit of the whole family.
There are people who are strongly opposed to their offspring entering a monastery. They wanted to see their children succeed in everyday life. Their offspring need to select precise arguments and answers to objections in order to understand the correctness of their decision.
Prudent parents should carefully examine their own child's choices. Look at the root of the issue, help and accept the choice of a loved one in this difficult endeavor.
Due to a misunderstanding of the essence of monasticism, most people consider the desire of their offspring to enter a monastery as something unnatural and wrong. They do not like that they will not have procreation, and their children will be deprived of ordinary worldly joys.
Holy Intercession Convent, Sverdlovsk region
Verkhoturye is considered the spiritual Orthodox center in the Urals. In addition to the Holy Protection, there is a functioning monastery, several churches and an ancient small Kremlin. The rules are strict: it is proposed to “leave worldly habits and manners behind the fence,” follow the established routine and ask permission in order to go out into the city. You don’t need a special blessing to work, you can just come.
You can get from Yekaterinburg to Verkhoturye by bus (from 800 rubles) or train (from 2500 rubles), the travel time is about five hours.
v-pokrov-m.ru
The Verkhoturye white-stone Kremlin is the only example of a stone fortification in the Middle Urals. Photo: Photobank “Lori”
If you need to think more: novice or worker
Choosing the right monastery in which the soul would lie forever can be very difficult. Having visited one monastery, it is difficult to decide whether you want to stay here or whether this monastery is not suitable for you.
Those who want to stay in the monastery for a short time can take on the role of a laborer. The worker must pray and confess often. Do any work on the monastery farm and gradually get used to life in the monastery.
The worker must live at the monastery and eat there. At this stage, they take a closer look at him, and when he remains unshakable in his intentions, they make an offer to remain in the monastery as a novice. A novice is a person undergoing testing in a monastery, preparing for tonsure.
Obedience is a Christian test, the meaning of which is to free the soul from everything worldly. It is necessary to understand and accept the meaning and importance of passing the test of obedience. Accept that this is done to cleanse the soul, and not for senseless torture. Whether a novice is ready to become a monk is decided by his mentor. This stage can last for many years. During obedience, you need to make a certain choice in your destiny.
The abbot of the monastery or the bishop performs the rite of tonsure as a monk. After this procedure there is no turning back. Renunciation of sorrows, confusion and passions leads to true connection with God.
Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent, Nizhny Novgorod region
You can come to Diveevo on an excursion, stay in a hotel or private sector and try on the role of a volunteer for a day or two. To do this, you need to take your passport and work clothes (for women - a long skirt, a jacket that covers the elbows, and a scarf) and head to the pilgrimage center. There is always a lot of work, so extra hands definitely won’t hurt. There are 17 pilgrimage corps in the monastery, but it is better to reserve places in advance. Those who do not like large crowds of people should settle in the Ascension monastery, 40 km from the monastery; it has its own pilgrimage building with rooms for one to three people.
The road by car from Moscow - you can make stops in Vladimir, Murom and Arzamas. Another way is by train: starting this summer, the Moscow–Arzamas–Diveevo route has been introduced according to the train+bus scheme, the price one way is 250 rubles.
4udel.nne.ru
The best view of the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery opens from the Vichkinza River. Photo: Photobank “Lori”
Let's sum it up
If you want to devote yourself to the service of God by taking monastic vows, you should be well aware that becoming a true monk is a very difficult matter. To do this you need:
- renounce worldly life;
- leave your home and loved ones;
- follow church rules;
- regularly sincerely prays to Christ;
- obey your spiritual guide;
- an unshakable desire to become a monk.
When using materials from thebestvideo.ru, a link to the source is required.
How to go to a monastery?
05/28/2016 11:09 Question to the priest
Our users often ask questions related to monasteries. How to go to a monastery, is it possible to live in a monastery for a while, and can life in a monastery help cope with depression. We asked Abbot Ignatius to answer these and other questions related to monasticism.
Abbot Ignatius Sidorenko answers:
Father Ignatius, please tell me, are there many monasteries in Kazakhstan?
Today, in the Metropolitan District of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan, there are two men's hermitages and 6 monasteries - 1 for men and 5 for women.
The men's hermitage in the name of the holy martyr Seraphim and Theognost of Alma-Ata is located in the Kyzylzhar gorge near the city of Kaskelen; Men's hermitage in the name of St. Silouan of Athos in the mountains near the city of Issyk.
Women's monasteries of the Astana and Almaty diocese: Iversko-Serafimovsky in the city of Almaty and the monastery in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Recovery of the Lost” in Astana.
In Ust-Kamenogorsk men's; in Semipalatinsk, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, Karaganda convents.
Please tell us what monasticism is?
Monasticism is a conscious deviation from the universally accepted way of life for the sake of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.
“...I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Him I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish, that I may gain Christ...” (Phil. 3:8).
The Apostle Paul recognizes that it is better to remain without a wife - “... I want you to be without worries...” - he writes to the Corinthians, - “... an unmarried man cares about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord, but a married man worries about the things of the world, how to please his wife” ( 1 Cor. 7:26-34).
Even in the world, it is rare, but you can meet convinced bachelors who have decided not to create problems for themselves related to marriage and raising children. The attitude towards such people in society is ambiguous. They are considered strange, eccentric, selfish, living for themselves, or people incapable of marriage due to health reasons. If we consider the reasons for entering into a marriage relationship, then they will all be on the worldly plane of natural bodily aspirations and spiritual attachments, which cause sorrow to the soul. Therefore, the Apostle Paul says to those who choose marriage, “...I feel sorry for you...”
The monk, realizing the full value of marriage, following the advice of the Apostle Paul, chooses a different path because of the complete admiration of his soul for communication with God. The Monk Ambrose of Optina was asked what monasticism is, and he answered: “bliss.” If the world knew the blessedness with which the Lord consoles monastics, it would renounce everything and follow this blessed calling.
Is it difficult to become a monk?
It’s easy if it’s done willingly—with the joy of a bird freed from the worldly net. The world is a system that is determined by its own laws. Born, studied, got married, worked, raised children, got them married, nursed grandchildren/great-grandchildren, got sick, died. Monasticism - birth from the Spirit into eternal life and exit from the system
Marriage is 100% absorption of attention and time by incessant worries about your wife and children/grandchildren. Monasticism is 100% filling of time with prayers and obediences. Marriage is a constant thought. Monasticism is unceasing prayer. Marriage has the same set of functions until old age and exhaustion. Monasticism is in God, and the body is in work.
As soon as there is no thought of marriage left in the heart, the next stage arises - the rejection of one’s will in the name of the Will of God. The human “I want” operates in the range of egoism. The monastic “I want” is aimed at knowing and fulfilling the will of God. Obedience is a conscious, purposeful rejection of self-will in the name of knowledge of the will of God.
How can a layman become a novice? What is needed for this?
To begin with, it would be nice to become a worker. Monasticism must be looked at from the inside. Come to the monastery, work for the Glory of God, pray at the monastery services. Then, if everything is to your liking, you should contact the abbot of the monastery with a request to be accepted into the number of novices.
The phrase “go to a monastery” has now become something of a cliché, which means “to run away from problems.” Father Ignatius, is it possible to escape from problems to a monastery? And what difficulties await a person who decides to become a monk or novice?
You can’t hide from problems in a monastery because you can’t escape yourself. In the monastery, all the problems will worsen, and it will become even worse than before. All problems must be resolved before the monastery. The most important problem or, as you put it, difficulty is the renunciation of your will. For fun, try to meekly obey your parents, bosses at work, and all God’s commandments. If it works out, then you can go and try yourself as a novice in a monastery.
Father Ignatius, often a person suffering from depression, believes that solitude in the monastery can help him cope with this illness. Is it so? Are such hopes justified?
You need to understand that the nature of depression is quite different. In the case when depression depends on the state of the body, does not depend on external factors in a person’s life, it is already a disease and it must be treated accordingly. Monotonous living conditions in a monastery, on the contrary, can contribute to increased depression; if you read monastic literature, you can find out that despondency is one of the main passions that attacks monastics, therefore, before going to a monastery, you need to know how and be able to fight with these passions and do not hope that someone in the monastery will solve your problems for you.
Entering a monastery is a recognition that you want to devote yourself to serving God, and not a mental health clinic. Depression will most likely be helped by realizing that everything is not so bad for you, that there are people who have it much harder. Look around you instead of feeling sorry for yourself. For example, give your earnings for three days to a single mother raising two children, or build a ramp to the entrance for a disabled neighbor. Clean the apartment, wash the windows and take a deep breath. Experience shows that in most cases, what people call depression for themselves disappears in no time after such exercises. Although, I repeat: depression comes in different forms.
Can a person suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction turn to a monastery for help?
Yes, of course it can. If a person really wants to get rid of addiction, then the conditions of monastic life can really be a good help. What should a person do who feels empty, cannot find the meaning of life and wants to find it by going to a monastery? Where to begin?
Leaving in order to find is already a path doomed to failure. It is easier to find the meaning of life in the world. Firstly, this is our Orthodox faith, which leads a person to Christ, this is the Church with its saving charter, liturgical circle, these are church holidays and fasts. But those who have already found the meaning of life and who want nothing in life to distract them from our Lord Jesus Christ should go to the monastery. So we need to start with what will lead us to Christ - with confession and regular Communion. You need to get into the Church rhythm: Wednesday, Friday - fasting, on Sunday - service.
Father Ignatius, how can you support a loved one who expresses a desire to enter a monastery?
The main thing is not to interfere. And the best help here is, of course, prayer, and joy for the person who felt the desire to devote himself entirely to God.
If among your friends there are those who are “out of this world,” advise them to write to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You must have JavaScript enabled to view it.; I will try to help them.
I wish all readers to find peace in Christ and acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit. If you want to become monks or nuns, begin to live in the world differently than you lived, delving into mental prayer, reading patristic literature, practicing fasting and striving for regular Communion. And all this must be done so that no one notices it, that is, without irritating anyone or condemning anyone. And then the Light of Christ will enlighten our souls to the desire to always be inseparable from Him.
Thank you for the conversation, Father Ignatius!
Responsibilities
The worker observes the internal regulations, rules and customs of the monastery.
The worker follows the rules of the monastic society and hierarchy - he obeys the abbot, obeys his elders, and does not stand apart. If the abbot orders you to leave the monastery, pack up and leave as soon as possible, without any “warn two weeks before dismissal” and “I’ll go to the labor commission.”
The worker attends all services and participates in the ritual life of the monastery. And this takes no less time than work - about eight hours a day are usually allocated for prayer and worship.
Types of jobs
If you think that you can work as a secretary, PR manager, copywriter or designer of a monastery website, then you are sorely mistaken. Physical labor is what you will have to face. By the way, it is precisely because of hard work that some monasteries set restrictions on age and health.
As a rule, monasteries require:
- carpenters, masons, tilers, plasterers, painters, general workers (carrying heavy loads, digging, unloading);
- blacksmiths, welders, mechanics and car mechanics;
- seasonal workers: in summer and autumn for collecting and processing crops in the monastery garden, in winter for collecting firewood and clearing snow from the monastery territory;
- cleaners, laundresses;
- cooks, kitchen workers (wash dishes, peel and grate vegetables, clean fish, break spaghetti - in monasteries they eat with spoons, stir porridge in a cauldron, sort out cereals and dried fruits from beetles);
- tractor drivers and drivers (if the farm is large);
- workers for gardens and parks, vegetable gardens, flower beds, apiaries, barnyards;
- restorers;
- tour guides (in rare cases - for monasteries where many pilgrims come);
- helpers on holidays (for example, at the bottling of blessed oil - monitor the filling of bottles, stick labels).
The availability of “vacancies” in the profession of interest should be checked with each monastery specifically. Moreover, it is worth contacting the monastery in advance (telephone numbers, email, contact person, website address can be obtained from the diocese) and find out whether there are free places for a particular period. Workers are temporary people in the monastery; they can come for two or three days or a month and a half, and the monastery hotels or guest houses are not rubber.
A worker is not always “assigned” to a certain specialization. Today you will be sent to lay tiles, tomorrow to throw manure, the day after tomorrow to weed potatoes, and then to help in the bakery. Objections, disputes and whims are not accepted and may cause the employee to be sent home.
