The Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer: A Review

Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer:  A Pilgrimage to the Heart of an Ancient Spirituality

(DVD) 114 minute documentary, narrated by Norris Chumley and Rev. Dr. John A. McGuckin. 

 Language: English  1 Disc.  Released May 2011.

Because I’ve made several blog posts about meditation, I wanted to end this series with a review of “The Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer”(DVD) because it provides an insightful perspective on silence & prayer, thus aiding meditation.

This documentary is not just for those Christians seeking to understand the Jesus Prayer:  “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  It is for anyone who wants to learn more about Christian church history and the beginning of monasticism.  “Why do monastics remove themselves from the “world”?  “Why do they value silence so much?” These questions and more are beautifully addressed by modern day monastics in the Middle East, Mediterranean, Eastern Europe and Russia.

Norris Chumley and Rev. Dr. McGuckin have created a superb work in bringing the heart of Christian spirituality from the Ancient Faith into a format for our homes and churches.  It’s a moving work, in that the audience gets to hear, first hand, from those who have devoted much of their life to prayer and contemplation.  Those who are mastering their passions and experience internal peace;  something the West craves.  This documentary provides a goldmine for people who love Christ and seek a deeper connection to Him through prayer and stillness.

I enjoyed the rhythm of this film, too.  It provides a pace that makes you slow down, take notice of the visuals, the sounds... the blessed silence within communal living.  And I loved the accompanying soundtrack, which included music and sounds of nature from each locale.  Rich Devletian did an outstanding job in creating a harmony that lends depth and texture to support the documentary. 

The cinematography is very good and English captions are provided during some interviews where either the voices are hard to decipher or they are speaking a foreign language.   I watched the film one evening with my son and then the following day reviewed some scenes that I wanted to absorb deeply.  One of those was from the first monastery visited, in Egypt.  

The monk speaking to the narrators talks about external peace vs. internal peace.  About how the first is easier to find, but isn’t lasting... the second, internal peace, is much more difficult to acquire, but much longer lasting.  He said, [paraphrase] ‘in this way, when you acquire inner peace, you can be in the heart of Manhattan and have absolute peace.’  His words resonated with me.  They were words I needed to hear.

This is a film for young people as well as adults. In fact, I would go so far as to say this is a documentary for classrooms around the world.  Christian history is world history, too, and affects people of all race, color and creed. Discretion may be advised for very young children, as themes of death and burial are discussed.   

A friend loaned this DVD to me, but now I’ll be purchasing a copy of my own to watch again and again...and pass on! 

Watch the trailer here: 

Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives

The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica:  A book review.  

Soft-cover, 212 pages, including maps and black & white photos. Published by St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2011

I bought this gem from our friends at Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV, the title catching my attention.   Are my thoughts really that powerful to determine the course of my life?  Surely some are more potent than others?  Who is Elder Thaddeus?

Hooked, I picked up the book to read the back cover and saw this quote:

  “We must bear everything patiently and forgive all.  If we have good thoughts and desires, these thoughts will give us peace and joy in this life and even more so in eternity.  Then we will see that there is no death, that the Lord has vanquished death, and that He has given us eternal life.”  -Elder Thaddeus

I learned that Elder Thaddues was a very respected spiritual mentor and monastic, living in Serbia during the 20th century.   He lived during a time that brought many trials to his life, including imprisonment by the Nazi occupation of Serbia.  Being born in 1914, he witnessed two World Wars and the 1999 NATO bombings.  Remarkably, by the grace of God, Elder Thaddeus remained a pillar of peace, love & hope to his fellow countrymen.  Over the years, many people made a pilgrimage to speak with the Elder, seeking his wise counsel and prayers. 

He passed onto heaven in 2002, but thankfully, his teachings on the spiritual life in Christ have been preserved in this book, compiled by the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood;  translated by Ana Smiljanic.

The book is divided into two parts: The Life of Elder Thaddeus and the lengthier second part, The Teachings of Elder Thaddeus.

I have discovered this work to be fascinating in it’s simplicity and profundity.  Isn’t it often true that when we discover a “new” concept, we often remark, “Of course!  Why didn’t I see it before?”  The prince of this world, however, is King of distraction and making our paths crooked.  Praise God, through the work and living witness of his saints, those paths are made straight.  Elder Thaddeus has given to me, through his teachings, a greater awareness and goal.  That goal is to master my thoughts and to realize how they affect my actions.

Photo by Goran Veljkovic

For example, in one account from his life, he was speaking with a woman who came to him in order to ask why her neighbor hated her so much and treated her badly.  She claimed she had done nothing wrong, but this neighbor was always giving her grief.  Elder Thaddeus then asked her, “Why are you always quarreling with your neighbor?”  And the woman replied that she had not so much as uttered a word to her evil neighbor.  But the Elder insisted that she was waging war with her neighbor because she was always thinking about her and anxious about her next move.  He instructed her to turn her thoughts to prayer for this neighbor and the issue would end in peace. (pg. 70)

Reading this account was a light-bulb moment for me.  How many times have I “waged war” with someone, including my loved ones (!) in my mind?  How much negative energy have I generated because of a perceived wrong?  Even more, how often do I  approach an issue with a negative mindset?   Why do I expect good results in resolving a conflict if I cannot even master my cynical thoughts about this person?

If you’ve read much on my blog, you’ll know that one of my many sins is having a quick temper;  a short fuse.  It’s a sin because it can cause me to act with haste which leads me to regret my words and actions.  I’m at a point in my life where I’m seeking peace, not just externally, but internally.  It’s a battle for me to keep the doors closed when anger wants to barge through... but at least I have a goal that keeps me moving in the right direction.

I know what I want.  I want to be a wellspring of peace and joy, most especially to my household.  I know that I enjoy being in the company of peaceful, wise souls.  By the grace of God, maybe He will help me to be that sort of person to others someday.   Elder Thaddeus said, “A spring of clean water attracts the unclean and the thirsty, who hasten to bathe themselves in it and drink from it.”   This is food that nourishes my soul;  if I desire to share the love of Christ, it is in becoming a woman of peace that so touches and ministers to another.  

Elder Thaddeus’ teachings have given me a greater awareness of how my thoughts dictate actions, for good or ill.  And how God will aid us when we have a desire to control our thoughts and be victorious in that battle of the mind.

Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives is a book I recommend for anyone aged 14 years and beyond.  It’s pure spiritual nourishment : )

To God be the glory for all things †

Monastery Visits II: Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration

Monastery of the Transfiguration, Ellwood City, PA

When a couple from our church suggested visiting the ‘monastery for the nuns’ back in winter, I jumped at the chance to go with them. Eleven of us made the trek at the beginning of June and stayed two nights in the guest houses at the Monastery of the Transfiguration. It’s a beautiful place, well established on 100 acres of gentle rolling hills and wooded property in Lawrence County, PA just about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

We all had a wonderful stay; the nuns are most hospitable, indeed, hospitality is one oftheir primary objectives, second only to their life in prayer. In fact, I learned that their guest homes are occupied nearly every weekend from spring through fall, hosting a steady stream of visitors, both Orthodox and non-Orthodox. The nuns enjoy the opportunity to share their monastic life with others and provide a place of beauty and retreat for weary souls.

Mother Paula telling us about the Semantron, an instrument used to call monastics to prayer and worship.

Monasticism interests me in general because of it’s call to live within the world, but apart from it -- stepping away from the loud noise and chaos that technology and the ever present attitude of ‘time is money’ lends to modern life in the USA. It’s something I struggle with and I think many others do too-- many of us on that fast-paced wheel of earning a living and rarely finding time for peace, contemplation and nurturing friendships. This particular monastery interested me due to it’s royal beginnings. The monastery’s foundress, the former Princess Illeana of Romania, born Her Royal Highness to Ferdinand I of Romania and his Queen, Marie of Romania in 1909, is a fascinating tale. The book documenting her life, Royal Monastic by Bev. Cooke is on my reading list for the summer since I’d like to learn more details about her life under communism and exile and how she ended up in America.

A youthful Princess Ileana of Romania. Image found in public domain.

This exquisite rug was a gift from Mother Alexandra, the former Princess Illeana, originally made in Russia.

Icon of the Theotokos and the Christ Child in the garden.

Soon after we arrived on the monastery grounds, Mother Paula greeted us with much warmth and offered a tour just as the sun was setting. She was so gracious with all our questions and was especially interested in talking to the young children in our group, making sure she presented her information in a way they could understand. All the nuns seem fond of children and go out of their way to include them in activities and conversation, much to my delight. I cannot overstate the warmth of our welcome here...

..and, after learning just how many guests they receive each week, it’s kind of amazing to me that they have such energy to engage each guest in such a personable way. I expected to see a beautiful place, full of quiet and peace and was not disappointed. The gardens, the cemetery and picnic gazebo all provide places of contemplative retreat. I never even found time to explore their wooded trails; this will be on the list for my next visit. I did not expect to see a playhouse full of things for children to enjoy or the large swing-set outside our guest house, occupying a small area of a vast and lush lea. What smiles this brought to our youngsters! They had fun, too, chasing fireflies in this same area on our first evening.

I don’t have many photos to show you the beauty of their chapel. Among my many quirks is the reluctance to photograph sacred spaces. I don’t have any valid reason for that, as the nuns told us we could photograph inside. I just have an abiding sense that I may be trivializing the subject and not showing the true quality of the place. Maybe that will change as my photography improves.

The guest houses are very comfy and provided everything we needed -a stocked refrigerator, toiletries, linens, and cozy spaces in which to converse with each other in the evenings. This, too, is another great aspect of our trip, getting to know our church family on a more personal level.

Another unexpected element of this trip was the awakening of my weaknesses. In a romantic way, I’ve entertained the idea that at some future point, maybe when I’m old and if I find myself alone, that I could possibly live the life of an Orthodox nun. I am so wrong. Loving God, His creation... cherishing simplicity and serving your fellow sister is not enough. The nuns lead a life comparable to an Olympic athlete. What exercise is to the body of an Olympian, prayer and worship is to the spirit. Monastics are the most disciplined people in this regard and I came to the awkward reality that I am such a weak vessel. So very weak in light of their rigorous prayer and worship services. Even in my 4th decade of being a Christian, I am a babe in the womb, for what is knowledge and faith apart from practice? Privately, I felt ashamed of myself, yet encouraged by the nuns’ disciplined example.

The meals were delicious and the setting very clean, bright and cheerful. A blessing, too, that I was able to make the acquaintance of Fr. Thomas Hopko and dined at his table on two different occasions. He served at Divine Liturgy on Sunday. His easy manner of speaking, his smooth voice and engaging facial expressions are most memorable. Since this was the Sunday of Pentecost, His homily was about the Holy Spirit and how, without It, we are nothing but animals, not able to reason or choose God.

The highlight of this weekend came during a precious hour+ Mother Caritina spent with me in her gardens, educating me about the various plants and flowers. This time was followed by a lesson for the young girls beside a tree, complete with birds darting to and fro, as if they were trying to hear, too. Mother Caritina gave to each girl a book she had crafted to tell the story of Jesus Christ and some of the history of our faith. Her patience and love for these girls was very evident. The girls took turns reading aloud and answered Mother Caritina’s questions. It made me smile quietly to know that our young ones do know a lot about Christ and our faith. When my daughter responded to a question and told Mother about Zacchaeus, the tax collector, Mother Caritina smiled greatly and exclaimed, “Oh! You make my heart happy to hear this!”

a type of Geranium plant, Mother showed us how to rub the leaves and then our faces to keep insects away

My favorite moment spent over the weekend...

The weekend flew by. We left soon after coffee hour/lunch on Sunday, but not before visiting their fabulous book store one last time! I bought a book on St. Innocent of Alaska (which we’re currently reading aloud in the evenings),some beeswax candles, coin purses made in Guatemala and a few humorous greeting cards. The nuns gave each of the young girls a cute T-Shirt that said, “Sing Praises to God!.... Make it a habit!”

Thank you, dear ones, of Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, for hosting our group. We look forward to our next visit with you. Glory to God for all things! †

Except where noted, all photos © 2011 Amy L. Thornton. All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without asking ; ' )

The Boy, a Kitchen, and His Cave

Written by Catherine K. Contopoulos, illustrated by Chrissanth Greene-Gross, published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press

Hardback, 32 fully illustrated pages

God bless the authors and illustrators who utilize their talents to touch the life of a young person in a positive and godly way. I’m always glad to find children’s books about the Church or her saints to add to our home library. This book is no exception; it’s a beautifully written tale about the life of St. Euphrosynos, a 9th century monk of Greek origin.

Illustration by Chrissanth Greene-Gross

Even though I was familiar with his icon from church and the homes of Orthodox friends, I was mostly unaware of Euphrosynos’ (Ef RO’ see noos) story. The author begins with a glimpse of Euphrosynos as a small boy, tending the gardens and animals on his family farm in the northern mountains of Greece. Although poor, his family raised him with an abundance of love for God. We follow his journey as he grows into a young man, finding his own way and eventually discovering the monasteries of Mount Athos.

It is in this setting that Euphrosynos’ character & virtue come into full bloom, as God’s grace allows him to transform hurtful insults into great lessons of faith, humility and gratitude. His work as the monastery cook, tending the fruits & vegetables and preparing food for his fellow monks enables him to practice an uncommon appreciation for simple things.

Euphrosynos working in the kitchen; illustration by Chrissanth Greene-Gross

I particularly like the Troparion (hymn) and historical note found at the end of the story, as it provides context for how this saint is remembered in the Orthodox Church.

The story flows easily, which has made this another favorite on our bookshelf. The recommended ages are 4 -8 years, but I’ve found it to be a story for any age. Our teenage son loves the story as much as I do.

Incidentally, I realized just how much Euphrosynos’ life had touched my son when he made reference to this saint recently in an unrelated conversation. My son said:

“I think the happiest people on earth are those who live simply.... just like St. Euphrosynos. He was happy just working in the garden or preparing food for people..”

Icon of St. Euphrosynos. Feastday, September 11

DVD Giveaway!

This week, I’ll be giving away a DVD, from the Little Mountain: Reflections on Orthodox Christian Monasticism, (English version) a documentary produced by the monks at Holy Cross Monastery. The short, 32 minute work takes you through a year at the monastery, giving you a glimpse into monastic life -- not to mention the gorgeous changing seasons in West Virginia.

I’ve written about the documentary previously, as I was gifted a copy soon after it was produced in 2008. It’s with great pleasure that I can share this with you. I’ve watched it many times in the last few years and always find it refreshing for the soul.

You can read more about it, as well as other reviews at the Holy Cross website:

Hermitage of the Holy Cross

Watch the trailor here:

Just leave a comment or email me at heartjoys2002(at)yahoo(dot)com to enter your name in the drawing, to be held on Monday, August 9, 2010. Contest limited to residents of USA.

Beacons: Hope in the World

beacon: n. signal fire, lit at well-known locations for navigation, or signaling the approach of enemy troops.

I’ve found myself in multiple conversations lately regarding monasticism. Honestly, it’s been a recurring theme ever since I converted to Orthodoxy in 2006. It seems as though much of the Protestant world, and those who claim no religion at all, frequently misunderstand the nature of this high calling of God.

The misconceptions include but are not limited to the following:

-monks think they can earn their salvation by their “works”

-monks abandon their service to the world to pursue selfish aims

-monks are “wasting” their lives

-monks are “out of touch” with the problems of the world

These claims could not be further from the truth.

Monastics are our beacons in this dark world, they give hope to the world by shining the Light of Christ most brilliantly.

* Monastics understand the violent corrupting nature of sin better than most of us lay persons because they enter into spiritual warfare daily.

* Monastics understand the power of prayer and diligently, daily pray for the world as well as individuals.

* Monasteries become centers of hope and illumination for communities; this is why many towns and cities built up around monasteries from days of old.

* Monastics, by example of their lives, give testimony to Jesus Christ and His enduring love for mankind.

* Monastics do not believe they “earn” salvation by works, but believe in the mercy of God for their salvation.

* Monasteries, and the holy people living within them, with the grace of God, transform places into holy ground.

* The number of active monasteries is a good indicator of a nation’s spiritual health.

* Monastics provide spiritual help and guidance to those in need; contrary to popular Protestant belief, they are most accessible and hospitable to those seeking Jesus Christ.

* Monks know the value of being still, ...a much needed lesson for us busy Americans.

Our Orthodox Monasteries around the world are holy places, daily engaging of the worship of God, providing spiritual direction, prayer & contemplation, healing, caring for and venerating precious icons, teaching us to be obedient in our life in Christ... they are our beacons of Light in this world.

Pray for our monastics,

Thank God for those answering this high calling...

If you cannot visit a monastery, a good way to share the essence of monasticism is to see the beautiful production, From the Little Mountain, made by the monks at Holy Cross Monastery. Read my review of From the Little Mountain.

Incidentally, one of my favorite scenes from the Lord of the Rings is the lighting of the beacons. I cannot watch this apart from tears because it so well represents the hope, the sustaining hope of Jesus Christ, lit in this world by monastics.