On Monday, July 21, 2014, abbots and abbesses or their representatives from several of the Orthodox Church in America’s monasteries were welcomed to the Chancery in Syosset, NY by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon at the opening session of a conference for monastics. The day ended with the celebration of Small Compline in the Chancery’s Saint Sergius of Radonezh Chapel.
After the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Tuesday morning, the participants gathered for a day-long session. Among the topics discussed were major challenges facing the OCA’s monastic communities, selection of leaders, the special concerns of women’s and men’s monasteries, application and formation processes, the role of psychological testing, spiritual guidance and mentorship, finances, and the needs and demands of the surrounding community [dioceses, parishes and society in general]. Also to be considered during the gathering are ways the Orthodox Church in America can offer the monasteries its assistance and help.
The conference concludes on Wednesday, July 23.
Among those attending are Igumen Gabriel, Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA; Mother Gabriella, Dormition Monastery, Rives Junction, MI; Mother Christophora, Transfiguration Monastery, Ellwood City, PA; Brother Christopher and Sister Celia, Monks and Nuns of New Skete, Cambridge, NY; Mother Raphaela, Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery, Otego, NY; Hieromonk Innocent, Monastery of Saint John of Shanghai, Manton, CA; Mother Sergia, Presentation of the Virgin Monastery, Marshfiled, MO; and Igumen Gerasim, Hermitage of Prophet Elias, Dickie Bush, AB, Canada.
