Thoughts on Monasteries 

By George Matsoukas

During Bright Week 2003, I spent four days at the Holy Archangel Monastery in Kendalia, Texas.  It was my second visit.  I have also visited other Monasteries that were not founded by the Elder Ephraim.  I especially enjoyed the St. Gregory Palamas Monastery in Ohio where all services are conducted in English.

I am impressed with the indefatigable work habits of the monastics.  I am awed at what they have accomplished in building their physical plants.  They provide so much in kind labor which enables them to accomplish so much. Monks must know many things in addition to their prayer life.  They are architects, construction workers, cooks, hosts providing hospitality, scholars, confessors and counselors and so much more.

I believe monasticism has been marginalized by the hierarchy because of their ability to accomplish so much in so short a time.  Overall, I found the monasteries to be centers of spirituality, and my visits have been rich spiritual experiences.  I know the monks get a bad rap.  They need to be integrated into the structure of the Church in America.   Why are not these monk priests candidates for bishoprics?  Maybe they could provide an answer to the crisis in leadership in our dioceses.  

My observations have caused me to raise questions about some of their choices. Why do they do the liturgy in Greek in monasteries established by the Elder Ephraim.  Are they language preservation societies?  Are they trying to reproduce Mt. Athos in Arizona or wherever they are located?   They need to maintain the discipline but adjust to the reality of the country and culture they inhabit.  Faithful and pious Orthodox Christian women are their great advocates here in America.  On Mt. Athos, women are not allowed to visit.    

Monasteries, like all institutions, including parishes, dioceses and the archdiocese need financial transparency.  I too would like to know more about the funding sources of monasteries, as well as the archdiocesan institutions.   It is the responsibility of the diocesan councils to make this information available to the faithful members of the church. Lack of accountability and transparency impacts all the institutions in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and causes people to wonder. 

The success of the monasteries needs to be studied.  They serve as models for the parishes.  Monasteries and parishes are not in competition.  They have different missions and purposes.

 Whether or not monasteries become centers of spiritual renewal for the Orthodox Church in America remains to be seen.  My prayer is that they will contribute to the process of spiritual renewal and not become another drag within the church that keeps the church from fulfilling its mission of bringing the Gospel to all people in all places.  The use of Greek to the exclusion of English is a major concern.   Monasteries would be more meaningful to the faithful when they come to realize that the transformation of this culture and this place requires the use of English.  Not using English stunts their effectiveness in transforming this culture and its people.