Not that it’s been any different this past year…
Dear friends, I’m back in the United States, after a very busy summer in the UK, and I thought I should bring all of you up to date with what we’ve achieved until now and what’s left to be done.
Slowly, the monastery is coming to life. We now have Kilninian, our beautiful 1755 church (dedicated to Sts Cuthbert and Ninian), and we also have the money to purchase five acres of land surrounding it. All the legal actions have been done, it’s now only a matter of time before we own the land, as well. This allows me to focus on the last main step of founding our monastery: building a small monastic house for our nuns. We’ll apply for the smallest and most humble building Health and Safety will approve!
I must thank you all for all you support. We couldn’t have raised this money without your efforts and the love that hides behind and motivates your efforts. Similarly, I myself couldn’t have survived this year without your prayers and encouragement. It’s been a tough year, but blessed beyond reason. For the first time in my life, I feel God has taken over everything; I lost all control, it’s all in His hands now, and I’ve never felt more at home than during these months of homelessness. I understand now that I am at home only in Christ; home has nothing to do with my nationality, with my family or certain walls in some part of the world. Home is Christ, and I’ve never felt that as deeply as I do now. To receive Christ’s Holy Body and Blood is to really be at home.
It’s true, there are some ‘luxuries’ I miss, such as, for instance, being ill. When you’re always a guest, one cannot afford the luxury of illness; when you are a guest in someone’s home, you are supposed to be uplifting and spiritually strong; nobody welcomes me in order to have me sweating in their sheets. I also miss being alone, although – strangely – I’ve never had such silence and loneliness in my heart as I do now, surrounded by hundreds of new people every week.
This year you’ve supported founding this monastery, and I thank you for that with all my heart. Without your knowledge, though, you’ve also supported my own personal history of salvation. You’ve contributed to founding a physical monastery, but also the flesh monastery of my own being. I must thank you for that, too.
Please remain close by. Please continue to support this monastery and the return of Orthodox Christianity in the Hebrides. Please continue to love.
Yours in Christ,
fr seraphim
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Fr. Seraphim, this is great news. I have been wondering and praying about your efforts. Thank God for the good news! God continue to bless your efforts and the monastery work. —Fr. Alexis Baldwin
Thank you for your prayers, dear father. There are so many things happening at the same time (many of which are ‘in the making’ or temporary), I honestly don’t know what to post and what to leave aside. Please forgive me if I sometimes fail to keep this site as up to date as I wish I did; at times, I am in places where there is no internet connection (these weeks, for instance, I am at the Protection Monastery in Lake George, Colorado, and I can only post / email when I get into a nearby town).
Please continue to pray for me and the monastery; I need all the spiritual support you can offer.
Father Serafim Welcome. May your visit bring blessings. I noted the comment by the “orthodox-catholic” monastery of our Lady Joy of all who sorrow. Peace and joy in your travels. Archbishop Nathaniel
Your blessing, Your Eminence. May God hear your prayer (and see your love) for this monastery. We still have a long way to go, but we wouldn’t have been where we are today without your support. In many ways, all the help we’ve received from the Orthodox people in the US became possible thanks to you. That is not something one ever forgets.
Glory to God! Wonderful news. Where will you be traveling in the US?
Oh, may God direct my steps! I still don’t have a definite schedule, dear Stephanie. It is more difficult than I let see to get invited to a parish in order to fundraise, but God is arranging it all step by step. All I know for certain is that, this time, I’ll stay mainly on thew West Coast. As more places get confirmed, I’ll update the ‘Service Diary’ section of the website.
Sent from my iPod
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Father Seraphim,
I can’t even begin to express the joy I have that the monastery is all coming together. Thank God!!! This is really good news!!!
I hope our paths will cross soon. Perhaps also, we can travel over “the pond” to see the monastery first hand.
Please know that you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
In Christ,
Mark Case