A Night in St Anthony's Monastery, Florence, AZ

St Anthony's Monastery Phiale Source

It is so soothing to get up at 11:00 PM and follow the monks to the

main katholikon (St Nectarios) where we all say the Jesus Prayer

out loud for an hour. Can you hear it? Listen;

"Κύριε Ιησού Χριστέ, ελέησόν με" (Kyrie Iesu Christe, eleison me)

The voices of the brothers are strong, decisive, with purpose and

determination, this is war! "For our struggle is not against flesh

and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the 

world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of 

wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesian 6:12.

Around 2:30 AM we return to church and the midnight office

begins. From then on, the prayers become a journey which will

prepare us and leads us to the sublime experience of the Divine

Liturgy. Finally the wondrous moment arrives, Christ is in

our midst! And we all draw near, with great longing and 

expectation to receive Him who walks among the lampstands,

our Lord Jesus Christ, "clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, 

and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and

His hair are white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes are

like a flame of fire. His feet are like burnished bronze, when it 

has been made to glow in a furnace" Rev.1:13-15

We dare approach Him only because he has first invited us.

"His voice is like the sound of many waters" Rev.1:15., "Take

eat, this is My Body which is broken for you for the forgiveness 

of sins. Drink of it all of you , this is my Blood of the new 

covenant which is shed for you and for many for the 

forgiveness of sins" 

It is indescribable. Life enters into my very being, body and spirit.

My Lord dwells within the manger of my soul. Alleluia!

Our lives in this world are froth with difficulty and sorrow. We weep

and we fall and we get up again. Thank God for His Mercy never

leaves us. Thank God, for this monastery and for Elder Ephraim and

the brotherhood who loves us and prays for us!

Elder Ephraim    Source

St Nicholas' Church Source

St Nectarios Church's Interior     Source

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