Well, there’s a first time for everything – last week, I visited St Laurence Monastery, a Western Rite Orthodox Monastery about two hours away from Protection Monastery. The drive was absolutely stunning! The Rockies are so shamelessly beautiful, especially at sun-set: typical teenagers (which is precisely what they are, compared to Scotland’s Hebridean Heights, some of the world’s oldest mountains), boasting with pride and beauty. I’ve seen herds of elk, hundreds and hundreds of deer, even wild turkeys (I confess I didn’t spend much time near them, as Mother Cassiana told me that mountain lions follow the turkey; I don’t know if that’s true, but I’d rather not find out!).
The Monastery itself is in a wonderful location, right in the centre of a small canyon and surrounded by mountains. They have a splendid wooden cabin (I absolutely loved it), and a large (newer) building for the church and additional accommodation. The fathers were very hospitable, we had a good dinner and a nice walk along the creek. Before we left, we went in the church for Vespers and a tour of the building.
Vespers felt very familiar to me, despite being celebrated according to the Western rite. It reminded me of the beautiful four months I spent last year at the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, England, while serving as the parish priest for the Romanian Orthodox Church in Leeds.
I attach some photos, although they really don’t do justice to the wild beauty of the place.
I remember reading Ms Baxter’s account of her journey north a few years ago and I wondered what had happened to M. Sophia – I am very glad to know now.
I haven’t read that, dear Margaret. I’ll try to find it once I get back to England; thank God, I’m done with my PhD, so now I may read for pleasure once again – it’s such a joy!
Ms Baxter is a very erudite and literary cat, no doubt because she lives with a nun 🙂 Glory to God for the PhD. It is certainly a joy to read without mentally taking notes – and to hear something interesting without thinking, “Now, how can I work that in?”
Fr. Serafim,
Thank you for visiting St. Mark’s this Sunday – we were very moved by your presentation, and have great hope for the success of your work. Christianity flourishes where the work is the hardest, so we are confident in the outcome! God bless you and your work in the Hebrides,
Peter & Janice
Thank you both for your kind words. Please keep me in your prayers and in the memory of those around you: I need both, and so does the monastery.
Dear in Christ, Fr Seraphim:
Christ is risen!
It was a great joy and blessing to have you with us at the Community of Our Lady and Saint Laurence, and to share fellowship and worship with you and Mother Cassiana. We are grateful that we were able, in a small way, to support your efforts by driving you to St Mark’s Church in Denver, too.
We have great respect and hopes for your undertaking, and pray fervently that, through the intercession of Ss Ninian and Cuthbert, God will bless and prosper this new monastic undertaking.
As you travel back to Scotland tomorrow, which on our Calendar is the Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury, may the Lord preserve you in safety and faithfulness.
Your unworthy brother,
Father Theodore, Prior
Community of Our Lady and Saint Laurence
Tallahassee Creek