ORTHODOX FEMALE MONASTICS

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVERS SHALL BE.

ORTHODOX FEMALE MONASTICS

The Holy Apostle Paul exhorts:

"It is much like the soldier who deserts his position within a superior army
and enlists in a lesser one. This soldier will not be granted a pardon, but will
be punished. In like manner will it be for one who forsakes the rank of the
virgins for a lower rank, even if among the temperate. In this regard, we must
rie to what is higher; for the Apostle exhorts us to ‘forget those things which
are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead" [Philippians 3:13].

On The Behavior of Monastics

"Ye know that in the world, many women, married and unmarried, conduct their lives wisely and in moderation. However, there are those that are imprudent, ignorant, and act rashly. These latter women defile their bodily senses. For instance, they look upon unseemly things, listen to foul stories, and laugh inordinately. We, the monastics, are enjoined to multiply the virtues. We are to depart from such undisciplined living and turn our eyes away from vain sights. Thus saith the Scripture: "Let thine eyes look straight on" [Proverbs 4:25].

"We must also restrain, as with a horse’s bit, our mouth. This organ is to be used for divine hymns and to glorify God, not to speak shamefully and impudently. Further, it is not enough to refrain from speaking evil, but we must not hearken to them that speak thus. The foregoing is not possible to keep if we often leave our cells; for by so doing, the thieving demons and passions steal in, even if we do not want them to gain entry. How is it possible not to dirty a home with outside smoke if the windows and doors are left open? Wherefore we are directed not to go into the cities and commercial festivals…Thus saith the Lord, "WATCH" [Matthew 24:42]. The more that you seek discretion and virginity, so much more will the acrid smoke of fierce thoughts attempt to divert you.

On True Virginity

"Endeavor to surmise how far thou art from true virginity, and thou wilt not be lax in thy combat with the enemy. Even if thou dost not physically commit fornication, yet the devil will seek to apprehend thee by the senses. Indeed, this may take place though thou hast not departed from thy cell or heard anything lewd. The enemy will strive to have thee do something unbecoming within the imaginings that he will conjure, whether thou be awake or asleep. This is because the vile one dwells within the heart. He will attempt to bewitch those with permissive minds, through the memory of handsome faces and former conversations, so as to excite and impassion the chaste. Therefore, we must disregard the fantasies created by the evil one…Therefore, the conflict with the demon of fornication is great and dreadful. This is the chief evil of the enemy by which he attempts to manipulate and ruin our souls…Thus with many and varied machinations, the devil provokes the lovers of Christ to commit fornication and idolatry. Many have turned back from the love of Christ because of the craftiness of the treacherous one.

"Those virgins who have refused marriage and every worldly illusion, he scornfully laughs at them and hurls them down headlong into unchastity, by means of sisterly love towards men. Likewise, monks who have forsaken every indecency and unchaste creature, he leads astray by means of pious dialogue with women. This is the occupation of the DECEIVER, to creep in and to feign the divine and the spiritual, so he can secretly sow his own works… Consequently, what must we do against the schemes of the devils in order to be saved? We must "BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES" [Matthew 10:16]. We must endeavor to anticipate the snares sent against us by the devil. When Christ Christ instructs us to be "WISE AS SERPENTS," He means that we must be on guard to suspect the deceiving children of the evil one. The expression, "HARMLESS AS DOVES," refers to the guilelessness and purity of the dove–and such should be our works. Therefore, every good work expels the bad, since it is unwilling to be tainted.

"Now how are we to avoid what we do not know? We cannot forecast the future, but we can be watchful and wary of the wiles of the evil one, and thus safeguard ourselves from many disasters. Listen to the divine Apostle Peter: "BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUT" [ I Peter 5:8]. Understand this: We must always be alert and wakeful, because our enemy certainly is always on the rise to start a conflict, either by outside means or by suggestive thoughts. The challenge may come by day or night, in a clandestine and unsuspecting manner. What do we need in this battle? It is plain that we require ascetic toil and pure prayer. These two works are the customary and basic remedies used against harmful thoughts. There are, however, other devices that can be employed in carnal warfare. Whenever a shameful thought intrudes, we must counter it with another thought."

As we can see the spiritual warfare continues day and night unceasingly. The life and spiritual struggle of the monk or nun is a continuous battle. The monastic cell is not a refuge but an arena where the monk or nun engages in a person to person combat through faith, prayer, fasting, and contemplation. A most excellent weapon used in spiritual warfare of the flesh, of logismoi (evil thoughts), of the passions by the monastics is the komboskini (prayer-rope) and the saving prayer said with profound faith and humility, "Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner!"

The Greek word for "nun" is monachi and for the monk is monachos. The Abbess of the Monastery is called Egoumenisa. The rasophora nun ( one who wears a black cassock) is called adelphi or sister. A monk is called adelphos or father. The primary degrees of monastic life for nuns are: "Novice" (Δόκιμη=Dokeme = on trial). A tonsured nun, is a Monache. There are in some cases those who have been blessed with "Little Schema" {or "Stavrophore") and those who have the "Great Schema" which is the highest level of monastic commitment, signifying a profound and exemplary spiritual life and devotion to the monastic life, virtue, and piety. The tonsuring either for a monk or a nun is conducted by the Geronda and Hieromonk of the local Monastery having received first the blessing of the Metropolitan or Bishop to do so. The Sponsor (Anadochos) is the Abbess (Egoumenisa) or Egoumenos (Abbot) of the monastery at which the monk or nun resides. If the Geronda (Egoumenos) of the monastery is not a hieromonk (priest-monk) than he will assign one of his priests to offer the prayers at the divine service. [Resources: The Lives of the Spiritual Mothers].

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George