What a wonderful opportunity to spend the Martin Luther King Day weekend with the New Skete Communities! Several women graduate students from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, as well as a few alumni and friends traveled to Cambridge, NY for an enriching, intense, and yet, stilling weekend encounter with God, nature, the Communities, and ourselves. Many of us had never been to New Skete before, but the warm hospitality of the Communities immediately allowed us to feel right at home.
Most of us arrived on Friday night in time to have dinner with the nuns, followed by an informal discussion of their life and ministry. They gave us a brief overview of the history of the nuns’ community. They talked about how they initially came to upstate New York and affiliated with the monks and about their life and ministry in those early years and now. They also told us about how they were eventually received into the Orthodox Church. Questions, answers, and more questions ensued. It was a thought provoking discussion and allowed us to see a living example of an expression of American monasticism for our time.
The next morning we joined the Communities for Matins (i.e. the daily morning service) in the main chapel. It was there that we were able to get a taste of the liturgical life of the Communities that we would experience more fully throughout the weekend. After breakfast we had some community building fellowship within our group. Then we gathered for an iconography presentation given by Sr. Rebecca. Through demonstration and contemplation, she showed us how icons (as one manifestation of our liturgical expression) allow us to encounter the Divine in our midst. They teach us through narrative and symbol and, ultimately, allow us to experience the event or presence of the person depicted in the icon. The beauty of the timeless proportions in many icons, much of which can now be expressed mathematically or understood through modern advances in physics, allows us to experience their transcendent power. For many of us, icons are a familiar part of our worship experience. However, we were now able to appreciate them in a new light.
Our lunch was held in silence. For many of us, this was a new experience. It allowed us to taste the flavors of the food more fully, to contemplate the origin of the ingredients, and to reflect on all those who may have contributed to its eventual arrival on our plates. After the meal, we had a brief reflection session led by Br. David, during which we talked about the experience of a different kind of table fellowship.
During the early afternoon we had some free time. Some of us went for a stroll on the beautiful grounds of the Companions meditation gardens. Some spent the time journaling or playing with the dogs. Others decamped for some much needed rest.
By mid-afternoon, we gathered again for an experience of lectio divina with Br. Christopher and Sr. Katrina. This is a practice of reading Scripture (or anything, often in different translations) slowly, meditating on the words, sharing words or phrases that are of particular interest, allowing them to penetrate one’s being, and ultimately, coming to a deeper understanding of the passage or story. We focused on the story of Mary and Martha and their encounter with Jesus. This is a story with which many women have a certain degree of empathy. As one who most identifies with Martha, I grew to appreciate why the response of Mary was so important. It was she who really encountered Jesus with her response. It gave me pause and is something upon which I have continued to reflect.
In preparation for the Vespers/Vigil Service (i.e. the evening service) for that evening and Liturgy (i.e. the celebration of the Eucharist) for the next day, Br. Stavros gave us an introduction to the liturgical life at New Skete. He explained some of the work that the Communities have done in reclaiming the liturgical expression of the early Church, especially the ancient Cathedral rite. Many of us have taken liturgics classes at the seminary and understand how our liturgical expression has evolved over time, as well as the influence of monastic practice on the earlier Cathedral Office. It was powerful to experience a service that was modeled more intentionally on this earlier rite. For many of us, the meaning of the action of the service was clearer and by hearing all the prayers throughout the service and responding appropriately, our encounter with them was more profound.
After Vespers and dinner with all the Communities of the Monastery, we gathered for the last presentation of the day focusing on spiritual growth and direction. Br. Christopher, Sr. Rebecca, and Br. David each spoke briefly on their own understanding and experience of spiritual direction and the influence it has had in their own lives. This provoked much discussion about the nature of spiritual direction, how one finds a spiritual director who is right for them, signs of a healthy and perhaps, not so healthy relationship and how one might discern the difference, as well as the relationship of spiritual direction to sacramental confession. It gave many of us food for thought and continued conversation.
Before retiring for the evening, our group visited with the Companions. Their hospitality was elegant and we enjoyed the opportunity to get to know them more personally. It was a welcome respite after such an intense day.
On Sunday morning, we joined the Communities for worship at both the Matins service and the Divine Liturgy. The Communities presented each of us with a book of Psalms as well as a New Skete Liturgy book, not only to be able to participate in the morning’s service more fully, but as a gift in honor of our pilgrimage. For many of us, beginning the Liturgy as a modified stational service, hearing an entrance prayer that calls on God to “accept the Church [people of God] as She approaches….” and actually entering the worship space during this time, hearing an Old Testament reading, as well as the usual readings from the New Testament and all the prayers of the service aloud, and then receiving communion, allowed us to experience worship on a deeper, more transformative level. Our liturgical experience was more closely connected with all the life-giving theology that we learn at seminary.
After liturgy, we joined that Chapel community for the coffee hour and met many of the folks that have made New Skete their spiritual home. Although some live locally, I was amazed that many travel a great distance every Sunday in order to worship with the Communities. It was certainly a telling realization.
That afternoon we joined the nuns for “Sunday dinner.” We had a chance to engage them more personally and chat about our lives and experiences in the Church and their lives and ministry in the Church. After dinner, we were also given a tour of the many of the nuns’ ministry areas—the iconography and vestment making workshops, and of course, the cheese cake bakery. [For those who may not be aware, selling cheesecakes is how the nuns support themselves.]
Before heading back to our respective homes, we gathered once more to process and reflect on our experiences of the weekend. One participant shared, “I found the monks, nuns and companions very welcoming and always ready for a conversation. Both my husband and I are excited by what we learned in iconography, liturgics, and stillness. We hope to visit again for a planned retreat or just a weekend getaway.” Another participant shared, “I felt blessed to participate in each individual workshop during our retreat weekend at New Skete, but what I enjoyed the most was the experience as a whole. It was refreshing and exciting to be introduced to a monastic way of life much different from what is common elsewhere in this country. Meeting the monastics, participating in the services, enjoying fellowship during meals: these were the most enriching moments of the weekend.”
Many lingered until late in the afternoon before departing for their respective homes. It seemed as though no one wanted to leave! After a walk around the grounds and some personal reflective time, I was finally on my way as well. Although I was physically exhausted from the intensity of weekend, I left feeling spiritually nurtured and revitalized.
–A participant.
Have you ever wondered what it is like to live the life of a monastic? In these turbulent times, New Skete is offering a unique opportunity for individuals interested in the monastic life to spend a week with us living according to the rhythms of our contemplative life. Guests will have ample opportunity for solitude and prayer, join us in choir for services, spend a certain period of time each day in common work, share meals with us, and have several spiritual conferences throughout the week on the monastic vocation. The dates for this retreat experience are June 1-7, and no fee is expected. If you are interested, please contact the monastery at 518-677-3928 or the vocation director at br_christopher@hotmail.com.
