Life of monks in the monastery. Monasticism - is it an easy path?

It happens that you can hear from women of all ages that they have decided to go to a monastery. Some say this as a joke, others seriously think about how to get into a nunnery to live, and some, especially girls, having parted with their loved one and considering that life is over, decide to go to a monastery, as if to spite everyone. And also in church circles you can hear stories about some negligent mother leading an immoral lifestyle, who abandoned her children and went to a monastery, now living there for her own pleasure with everything ready for her.

But is it so easy to get into the monastery, and is life “with everything ready” so carefree? Of course not. Getting into the monastery is quite difficult, because it will be necessary to prove not only to yourself, but also to other nuns that the decision was not made spontaneously, that all the pros and cons have been weighed, that the woman is ready for such a vitally important act. Only in the old days was it possible to imprison a person in a monastery without the will of the person himself, but now he will have to go through a long difficult path on his own in order to take monastic vows.

Required qualities

Go to a monastery - what is needed for this? A lot is needed, first of all you need to have a number of qualities, namely:

In addition, it should be borne in mind that nuns are constantly engaged in hard physical labor to earn their living, so it is very desirable to have good physical health and endurance. You will also have to observe fasts and stand at services, which in the monastery last for several hours in a row. . Therefore, in addition to physical, you also need to have spiritual strength. Each person must first decide for himself whether he can withstand such a life, because removing the monastic rank is very problematic.

How to start preparing for monasticism

So, how can a woman go to a monastery? If the decision is made firmly, you can begin to prepare for monastic life. First, you need to begin the life of a churchgoer - regularly attend church services, confess, take communion, observe fasts, and try to follow the commandments. You can, with the blessing of the priest, serve in the temple - clean candlesticks, wash floors and windows, help in the refectory and perform any other assigned work.

It will be necessary to resolve all issues related to worldly affairs - determine who will look after the apartment or house (often future nuns simply sell their real estate and invest in equipping the monastery), resolve any legal issues, place pets, if any, in reliable hands. Next, you need to talk to your spiritual mentor, tell about your intention. The priest will help you choose a monastery and prepare for monastic life. It is imperative to receive the blessing of your confessor to leave life in the world.

Trip to the monastery

So, preparation completed, the blessing has been received, the monastery has been chosen. Now you should go there to talk with Mother Superior. She will talk about the features of life in the chosen monastery, about traditions and living conditions. You should have the necessary documents with you:

• Passport.
• A short autobiography.
• Marriage certificate or death certificate of spouse (if available).
• Request for admission to the monastery.

You should know that tonsure is permitted only to persons who have reached thirty years of age. If a woman has minor children, she will need to present a certificate of the establishment of guardianship over them by the responsible persons (sometimes they may also require characteristics of the guardians). You need to know that in this case the confessor may not give a blessing for monastic life and the abbess will advise you to stay in the world and raise your children. Staying in the monastery while having a minor child in the world is possible only in exceptional cases. The same applies to situations where a woman has elderly parents who need care.

There is no mandatory deposit of funds, but you can bring a voluntary donation.

What awaits in the monastery

It is impossible to take monastic vows immediately upon arrival at the monastery. Typically, a probationary period of three to five years is established. At this time the woman will take a closer look to monastic life and will be able to understand whether she is ready to finally leave the world and stay in the monastery. Before taking monastic vows, a woman goes through several stages of monastic life.

These are all the answers to the questions of how to go to a monastery, what is needed for this. If a woman is not frightened by the upcoming difficulties, the desire to serve God and her neighbor is still strong, and leaving for a monastery is a decided matter, perhaps this is her path, after all, as experienced priests say, it is not people who accept people into the monastery, but the Lord himself.

Since it carries within itself renunciation of a sinful life, the seal of chosenness, eternal union with Christ and dedication to serving God.

Monasticism is the destiny of the strong in spirit and body. If a person is unhappy in worldly life, escaping to a monastery will only worsen his misfortunes.

It is possible to go to a monastery only by breaking ties with the outside world, completely renouncing everything earthly and devoting your life to serving the Lord. Desire alone is not enough for this: the call and dictates of the heart make a person closer to monasticism. For this you need to work hard and prepare.

The path to the monastery begins with knowledge of the depth of spiritual life.

Took monastic vows

Entering a monastery for women

How can a woman go to a monastery? This is a decision that the woman herself makes, but not without the help of a spiritual mentor and God's blessing.

We should not forget that they come to the monastery not to heal spiritual wounds received in the world from unhappy love, the death of loved ones, but to reunite with the Lord, with the cleansing of the soul from sins, with the understanding that all life now belongs to the service of Christ.

Everyone is welcome at the monastery, but as long as problems remain in worldly life, the walls of the monastery cannot save, but can only worsen the situation. When leaving for a monastery, there should be no attachments that hold you back in everyday life. If the readiness to devote oneself to serving the Lord is strong, then monastic life will benefit the nun; peace and tranquility will be found in daily work, prayers and the feeling that the Lord is always near.

If people behave irresponsibly in the world - they want to leave their wife, leave their children, then there is no confidence that monastic life will benefit such a lost soul.

Important! Responsibility is needed always and everywhere. You can't run away from yourself. You should not go to the monastery, but come to the monastery, go towards a new day, a new dawn, where the Lord is waiting for you.

Entering a monastery for men

How can a man go to a monastery? This decision is not easy. But the rules are the same, just like for women. It’s just that in society, more responsibility for family, work, and children lies on men’s shoulders.

Therefore, when going to a monastery, but at the same time getting closer to God, you need to think about whether your loved ones will be left without the support and strong shoulder of a man.

There is no big difference between a man and a woman who wants to go to a monastery. Everyone has their own reason for leaving for the monastery. The only thing that unites future monks is imitation of the way of life of Christ.

Preparation for monastic life

Monk - translated from Greek means “lonely”, and in Rus' they were called monks - from the word “different”, “different”. Monastic life is not a disregard for the world, its colors and admiration for life, but it is a renunciation of harmful passions and sinfulness, from carnal pleasures and pleasures. Monasticism serves to restore the original purity and sinlessness that Adam and Eve were endowed with in paradise.

Yes, this is a difficult and difficult path, but the reward is great - imitation of the image of Christ, endless joy in God, the ability to accept with gratitude everything that the Lord sends. In addition, monks are the first prayer books about the sinful world. As long as their prayer sounds, the world continues. This is the main job of monks - to pray for the whole world.

While a man or woman lives in the world, but with all his soul feels that their place is in the monastery, they have time to prepare and make the right and final choice between worldly life and life in unity with God:

• First you need to be an Orthodox Christian;
• To visit the temple, but not formally, but to imbue your soul with the divine services and love them;
• Perform morning and evening prayer rules;
• Learn to observe physical and spiritual fasting;
• Honor Orthodox holidays;
• Read spiritual literature, the lives of saints, and be sure to get acquainted with books written by holy people that tell about monastic life and the history of monasticism;
• Find a spiritual mentor who will tell you about true monasticism, dispel myths about life in a monastery, and give a blessing for serving God;
• Make a pilgrimage to several monasteries, be a laborer, stay for obedience.

About Orthodox monasteries:

Who can enter a monastery

The impossibility of living without God leads a man or woman to the walls of the monastery. They do not run away from people, but go for salvation, for the inner need of repentance.

And yet there are obstacles to entering the monastery; not everyone can be blessed for monasticism.

Cannot be a monk or nun:

• A family man;
• A man or woman raising small children;
• Wanting to hide from unhappy love, difficulties, failures;
• A person’s advanced age becomes an obstacle to monasticism, because in the monastery they work diligently and hard, and for this you need to be healthy. Yes, and it is difficult to change ingrained habits that will become an obstacle to monasticism.

If all this is absent and the intention to come to monasticism does not leave a person for a minute, of course, no one and nothing will prevent him from renouncing the world and entering a monastery.

Absolutely different people go to the monastery: those who have achieved success in the world, educated, smart, beautiful. They go because the soul thirsts for more.

Monasticism is open to everyone, but not everyone is fully ready for it. Monasticism is a life without sorrows, in the understanding that a person gets rid of worldly vanity and worries. But this life is much harder than the life of a family man. The family cross is difficult, but after escaping from it to a monastery, disappointment awaits and relief does not come.

Advice! And yet, in order to step on the difficult path of monasticism, which belongs to a few, you need to think carefully and carefully, so as not to look back and regret what happened.

Took monastic vows

How to deal with parents

Many parents in ancient times in Rus' and other Orthodox countries welcomed their children’s desire to become monks. The youths were prepared from childhood to become monks. Such children were considered prayer books for the whole family.

But there were also deeply religious people who categorically opposed the service of their children in the monastic field. They wanted to see their children successful and prosperous in worldly life.

Children who independently decided to live in a monastery prepare their loved ones for such a serious choice. It is necessary to choose the right words and arguments that will be perceived correctly by parents and will not lead them into the sin of condemnation.

In turn, prudent parents will thoroughly study their child’s choice, delve into the essence and understanding of the whole issue, and help and support a loved one in such an important undertaking.

It’s just that the majority, due to ignorance of the essence of monasticism, perceive the desire of children to serve the Lord as something alien, unnatural. They begin to fall into despair and melancholy.

Parents are sad that there will be no grandchildren, that their son or daughter will not have all the usual worldly joys, which are considered to be the highest achievements for a person.

Advice! Monasticism is a worthy decision for a child, and parental support is an important component in the final confirmation of the correct choice of the future path in life.

On raising children in faith:

Time for reflection: laborer and novice

To choose a monastery in which a future monk will stay, they make more than one trip to holy places. When visiting one monastery, it is difficult to determine that a person’s heart will remain here to serve God.

After remaining in the monastery for several weeks, the man or woman is assigned the role of laborer.

During this period a person:

• prays a lot, confesses;
• works for the benefit of the monastery;
• gradually comprehends the basics of monastic life.

The worker lives at the monastery and eats here. At this stage, the monastery takes a closer look at him, and if the person remains faithful to his vocation of monasticism, he is offered to remain in the monastery as a novice - a person preparing to be tonsured as a monk and undergoing a spiritual test in the monastery.

Important: obedience is a Christian virtue, a monastic vow, a test, the whole meaning of which comes down to the liberation of the soul, and not to slavery. The essence and importance of obedience must be understood and felt. Understand that everything is done for good, and not for torment. By performing obedience, they understand that the elder, who is responsible for the future monk, cares about the salvation of his soul.

In case of unbearable trials, when the spirit weakens, you can always turn to your elder and tell about the difficulties. And unceasing prayer to God is the first assistant in strengthening the spirit.

You can be a novice for many years. Whether a person is ready to become a monk is decided by the confessor. At the stage of obedience there is still time to think about the future life.

The bishop or abbot of the monastery performs the rite of monastic tonsure. After tonsure there is no turning back: moving away from passions, sorrows and embarrassment leads to an inextricable connection with God.

Important: do not rush, do not rush to accept monasticism. Impulsive impulses, inexperience, and ardor are falsely taken for a true calling to be a monk. And then a person begins to worry, despondency, melancholy, and run away from the monastery. The vows are made and no one can break them. And life turns into torture.

Therefore, the main instruction of the holy fathers is careful obedience and testing for a certain period of time, which will show the true intention to be called to monasticism.

Life in the monastery

In our 21st century, it has become possible for ordinary lay people to get closer and see the life of monks.

Pilgrimage trips to nunneries and monasteries are now being organized. The pilgrimage lasts several days. The laity live at the monastery, in specially designated rooms for guests. Sometimes accommodation may be paid, but this is a symbolic price and the proceeds from it go to the maintenance of the monastery. Food is free, according to the monastery charter, that is, fast food.

But the laity do not live in the monastery as tourists, but become involved in the life of monks. They undergo obedience, work for the good of the monastery, pray and feel the grace of God with all their nature. They are very tired, but the fatigue is pleasant, grace-filled, which brings peace to the soul and a feeling of the closeness of God.

After such trips, many myths about the life of monks are dispelled:

1. There is strict discipline in the monastery, but it does not oppress the nuns and monks, but brings joy. They see the meaning of life in fasting, work and prayer.
2. Nobody forbids a monk to have books, listen to music, watch films, communicate with friends, travel, but everything should be for the good of the soul.
3. The cells are not dull, as they show in feature films, there is a wardrobe, a bed, a table, many icons - everything is very cozy.

After tonsure, three vows are taken: chastity, non-covetousness, obedience:

• Monastic chastity- this is celibacy, as a constituent element of aspiration towards God; the concept of chastity as abstinence from satisfying the lusts of the flesh also exists in the world, therefore the meaning of this vow in the context of monasticism is something else - the acquisition of God Himself;
• Monastic obedience- cutting off one’s will before everyone - elders, before every person, before Christ. Trust God infinitely and be submissive to Him in everything. Accept with gratitude everything as it is. Such a life acquires a special inner world, in direct contact with God and not overshadowed by any external circumstances;
• Non-covetousness means renunciation of everything earthly. Monastic life renounces earthly goods: a monk should not have an addiction to anything. By renouncing earthly riches, he gains lightness of spirit.

And only with the Lord, when communication with Him becomes above all else - the rest, in principle, is not necessary and unimportant.

Watch a video about how to enter a monastery

When hearing the word “monastery,” many still imagine a stone cell, gloomy faces, continuous prayers and complete renunciation from the world. Or a personal tragedy that deprived a person of the meaning to live further, and he “went to a monastery.”

I tried to find out how nuns live in the 21st century and why they choose this path from my school friend, who has been living in a monastery for more than 10 years.

I was surprised to find that my school friend had practically not changed, despite the fact that we had not seen each other for fourteen years! Facial expressions and gestures, intonations, and style of speech remained the same. And character. Sister Alexandra (that’s Yulia’s name after her tonsure) willingly told me about her life in the monastery, about what brought her here, and what she actually found here.

To a foreign monastery

– How did you decide to go to the monastery? Have you been going to church since childhood?

“My grandmother took me to church, and in high school I started going with my girlfriends, but we also managed to go to parties, and even to nightclubs, although my mother was against it. When we graduated from school, everyone decided to enter theological school. Each of us was going to marry a priest in order to remain in the spiritual sphere. We met the teachers and began preparing for admission next year. I periodically went to this monastery, once I stayed for a week, I really liked it here. I even wanted to stay, but I had to return home and finish my business. You can't be obligated to something and come here.

In general, instead of getting married, I chose life in a monastery. We had the same goal, but everything turned out differently. I wasn’t going to join a monastery, but I know girls who were, but they have families now. Everything is the will of God, no one is immune from anything.

– There is an opinion that mostly people who have had a misfortune go to the monastery and they no longer see the meaning in life. Or are these some “downtrodden” girls who could not find themselves in the ordinary world. Is it so?

“There’s no hiding from grief here.” There is nowhere you can hide from yourself. Mostly those who like it here come to the monastery. All people are different: sad and cheerful, calm and active. I don’t agree that only the “downtrodden” come here.

(Two nuns pass by us, girls about 25 years old: rosy faces, smiles; which only confirms Yulia’s words.)

– How are those wishing to be accepted into the monastery? Are there any stages?

“People just stay and approach Mother Superior or the dean. They look at the new girl, how she prays and works. The main criterion is obedience. First, the girl puts on a headscarf and a long skirt. Before tonsure, a novice can live in a monastery from one to three years, but this is on average. Someone can live ten years and leave without taking monastic vows.

“A slave is not a pilgrim”

– What do nuns do? How does your day usually go?

– Each has its own responsibilities – work. When you come to the monastery, you submit documents - what kind of education you have, what skills and experience. Usually they try to distribute work according to education: with medical education they go to become nurses or become doctors, with economics they do accounting, and those who sing well go into the choir. Although they can send you to the barn with two higher ones. The day begins and ends with prayer. We get up at 5.30 for the first service, work throughout the day, and read the lives of the saints at meals. After lunch it’s back to work, then evening service, evening rule (prayer for bedtime), and we go to bed around 11 pm.

– Do you receive a salary for your work? Why do nuns even exist?

– In our monastery there are no salaries, although such a practice exists - in some monasteries I know for sure, they give out money on holidays. Somewhere a monastery cannot fully provide for nuns. We have housing, we eat here, we are given “work” clothes. But everything else... Some people get help from their parents, relatives, friends.

– What conditions do the nuns live in?

– Our conditions are normal, we live two or three people in a room, there is a shower and toilet on the floor. But in some monasteries they live very poorly, they heat with wood. And if the monastery is frequently visited, the nuns are arranged much better: each sister has her own house, which has a kitchen, bedroom, and hall. Guests come to them, whom you can invite to your place and give them tea.

– Can you leave the monastery and visit relatives?

– Yes, in every monastery there is a “vacation”, but the conditions are different everywhere. In some places, nuns may leave every year, in others more often, in others less often, depending on the circumstances. Some monasteries have certain days when you can leave. We are all human, even though we live in a monastery. I believe that vacation is a must. A slave is not a pilgrim.

Peace to the world

– By the way, how did your relatives and friends react when they found out that you had gone to a monastery?

- But I didn’t tell anyone. Only those closest to me knew, and it was hard for them to let me go. We told the others that I had gone to another place. There are just a lot of questions and speculation when people find out right away. And when this happens after some time, it’s easier to perceive. But many are preparing to leave openly.

– Did you have any doubts about the right path? What should a nun do in this case? And how do the authorities react if someone is about to leave the monastery?

– It’s hard to say how they will react; of course, it’s sad when they leave the monastery. Some discuss doubts with the sisters, others go to the abbess. Sometimes it can be very difficult... But I can only tell about problems to a close person. We live like a big family. There are quarrels and reconciliations. But if a person decides to leave because of something, it means that his internal state has changed. Why can't he accept certain things? Life in a monastery, like marriage, requires compromises to stay.

– Do you celebrate holidays and birthdays? Can nuns drink wine?

– We celebrate Orthodox holidays. First is Christmas, the most joyful holiday: we sing carols and go from cell to cell. Then Easter... In some monasteries you can drink a little wine. We celebrate together, we fast together, it’s not at all boring as it seems. Some people celebrate their birthday, but more often it's angel's day.

– Do many new people come to monasteries now? And is there a place and work for them all?

– Every monastery needs new people. Now not so many come, about five people a year. The boom occurred in the mid-90s, and until about 2005 many people went to monasteries. This was probably due to the fact that in the early 90s the church began to revive.

– Is it possible for promotion in the monastery, so to speak, career growth?

– This is relevant for monasteries. In women's, you can become an abbess, but I don't strive for anything, I'm fine as is.

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Monastery life

The moment a worldly person decides to put on an angelic image and change his usual clothes to a monastic robe, his life turns into a path along which, step by step, he tries to get closer to God. And in order for this path of monastic life to be the most successful, the holy fathers developed an excellent “program” for everyday spiritual life - the charter. The communal rule that prevails today in the monasteries of Russia, Greece and on Mount Athos comes from the studite tradition. This tradition was brought to Athos by St. Athanasius of Athos (961), who later became abbot of the Great Lavra. The rules of the Athonite community harmoniously combine hesychasm, prayer and obedience. That is why the reviving Nikolaev Malitsky Monastery, when choosing a monastic charter, chose the Athos tradition.

LIFE

For Malitsa monks it is quite simple. In a communal (cinenial) monastery, everything is common, including meals. There are separate, so-called “decent” tables in the refectory if you need to receive guests and honor them with your presence.

The monastery monk has a room - a cell with a bed, pillow and mattress, a water jug ​​with a cup, two wardrobes for clothes and books, icons, a table, a reading lamp and a chair. Judging by the size of the cell (3.5 x 1.90 meters), one can imagine how many things will fit there. Monks who are studying can ask for a CD player or cassette recorder in their cell. If a radio receiver is built into the tape recorder, it is broken out. In general, if a monk needs even such a small thing as toothpaste, he turns to the abbot of the monastery. Without a blessing, a monk literally will not bring even a needle into his cell. Moreover, most monks inspect their cells every few months in order to find items that can be gotten rid of. Every thing eats up time. The more things you have, the more time they take away from the main goal of life.

The monk's clothing - a sign of repentance and humility - consists of a cassock, leather belt, trousers and skufia. Expensive, silk or colored fabrics are not blessed - wool and suit fabric are used. At services, monks are required to wear a Greek cassock and klobuk (kamilavka with markings). Linen can consist of two or three shirts and trousers. Shoes and jackets can be workable and clean. Any clothing in excess of the above is considered excess.
The monks do not earn their own means of living, at their own request, since they are fully supported by the monastery, and they receive everything they need from batteries to medicines with the blessing of the abbot. Of course, the reviving monastery accepts donations from various individuals and organizations. Due to the lack of trade and developed economy, the monastery does not have constant material income. There is also no bookstore, so apart from candles in the temple, “experienced” pilgrims will not be able to purchase anything.

What all monks have in common is a cell, but in it they are “tenants,” or guests for the time allotted by the Lord for repentance. Life on earth is temporary: there is no need to worry about conveniences. A cell for monks is a coffin where one should think about death. Monks in general look at life, the body and the world as if they were looking at a coffin: life is bitter and short on earth, but infinitely sweet in heaven.

CELL RULE.

Each monk has his own appearance, spiritual world and internal routine, therefore the confessor has a special approach to each monk. At the same time, the life of the monastery is still subject to strict regulations and flows strictly according to the schedule. Long before dawn, no later than an hour before the start of the morning service, at a quarter to five, the monks wake up to fulfill their cell rule. For the great, the service begins an hour earlier. Personal monastic rule is performed primarily using the rosary. The monks always have them with them. Bundle by knot they repeat the most important ascetic prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” The monks read the night prayer or canon every night, and every night they ask the Lord God for help in the fight against human passions and worldly thoughts.

The holy fathers call night prayer an “arena,” since every night battles with dark forces are fought in cells through prayer. And the faster the monk approaches God, acquiring virtues, the stronger the attack from dark forces. Personal prayer and teaching is one’s own feat in the cell.

The cell rule is performed standing, with the sign of the cross and small bows from the waist at each prayer. For schema monks it consists of 12 rosaries (centurions) with small bows and one with great bows, for robed monks it consists of 6 rosaries (centurions) with small bows and 60 great bows, and for new monks and novices of 3 rosaries with small bows and 33 great bows. Prostrations to the ground are left only on Sundays throughout the year, and on Bright Week.

WORSHIP

Divine services have always been and continue to be the center of all monastic life.

The liturgical charter that the modern Malitsky monastery adheres to was compiled by the ancient holy fathers - the Holy Mountainers. According to its rules, it is more suitable for a desert-hermit life. At the present time, due to special living conditions, this charter is not observed as strictly as before. But the modern rule, developed by life, is also not easy. It can be said with certainty that in Russia there are hardly a dozen monasteries that follow such a charter. Church services are, of course, daily. In total, divine services take the monks about seven hours a day, taking into account the monastic cell rule.

The main places of worship in the Malitsky monastery are the large Church of the Intercession, which plays the role of a catholicon (καθολικὸν - the cathedral church of the monastery), and the “old temple” paraklis (παρεκκλήσ) - a small-sized house church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, located in the southern wing of the fraternal corps. Usually, daily services of the daily circle are performed in the old (house) church, and in the new one - Pokrovsky, much larger in size - they are served on major holidays and Sundays throughout the year.

The midnight office begins at a quarter to six. This part of the service is always performed in the dark, and only the glare from the burning lamps illuminates the walls of the temple. In a side corner illuminated by a lamp, one of the monastic readers reads the sequence of the Midnight Office. The atmosphere is peaceful, prayerful: in the muted light of lamps illuminating the golden backgrounds on the icons, black-clad figures of monks and novices silently appear, traditionally crossing themselves and bowing towards the altar and both choirs; They take the morning blessing from the abbot and disperse to the stasidiums.
On weekdays, the entire service is read and sung “quickly”; instead of longer Byzantine chants, “everyday” is used.

After the midnight service, if it is read in the Church of the Intercession, the priest opens the curtain of the Royal Doors of the vestibule and everyone moves to the main church, where matins and hours will be performed.

Along the walls of the entire temple, monks and lay people are located in stasidiums. Thanks to this distribution, a large number of people can be accommodated in the temple without creating fuss or noise.

A quarter of an hour before the start of the Divine Liturgy, a monk dressed in a robe walks around the monastery and, with blows on a portable wooden beater (τάλαντον), calls workers and pilgrims to the temple one step at a time. Then he immediately hits the iron beater (rivet), after which, if there is a holiday, there is a short ringing in the bell tower.

The liturgy on ordinary days lasts about an hour. The moments of the liturgy considered the most important - the initial exclamation “Blessed is the kingdom”, the great entrance, the epiclesis, the exclamation “Holy to the Holies”, the time of Communion (from the exclamation “With the fear of God” to the exclamation “Always, now and ever...”) - are marked by the fact that that at this time everyone comes out of the stasidia and bows deeply.

The frequency of confession in the Malitsky monastery is not stipulated by a single rule and is determined by the spiritual need of each monk. Confession is usually performed in one of the chapels of the cathedral or in the cell of the confessor. The confessor in the monastery is the abbot. All brethren receive Holy Communion at least once a week (usually on Tuesday and Saturday or Sunday; monks and clergy receive communion every day.

At the end of the liturgy, if there is a celebration of a saint, a dish with kolyvo is placed in front of the proskynitarium (lectern for the icon), the troparion and kontakion to the saint are sung, the serving hieromonk censes kolyvo and reads a prayer for his blessing; the same thing happens on days of remembrance of the dead (with the singing of funeral troparions instead of the festive one). At the end of the liturgy, the antidoron is distributed to the faithful.

Services in the monastery are performed in limited quantities. Basically this is baptism and funeral service. The frequency of confession of the brothers is determined by their desire. The abbot blesses them to come to him at least once a week, not necessarily for confession - just for a conversation. While the abbot is outside the walls of the monastery, all services are performed by the second monastery priest.

Immediately after the completion of the Divine Liturgy, usually around 9.30 am, tea follows.

OBEDIENCE

After tea, the monks retire for a while to rest, after which they go to their daily obediences, that is, to work. All monks, including the abbot, go to obedience, since common work is fundamental in every cenobitic monastery. And no matter how difficult or unpleasant obedience may be, the monk accepts it as sent by God, like the Cross, the bearing of which is the path to salvation.

In the Malitsky monastery, various obediences are performed: secretary, sacristan, librarian, ecclesiarch, sextons, singers, readers, bell ringers, icon painters, in the kitchen - cooks and refectories, carpenters, builders, cleaners, gardener, beekeeper, gasman, driver, tour guide, etc. d. In addition, fathers must participate in general work (panginya), such as watering and harvesting crops, cleaning the territory, preparing for the patronal feast, etc. The monastery has several farmsteads, where brothers and parishioners also work. The pious laity provide great assistance to the monastery; they work selflessly for the Glory of God, helping the brethren in almost all obediences. Often it is necessary to attract electricians, plumbers and other specialists from the “world”.

The word obedience ("diaconima") in Greek comes from the verb "diakono", which means: "service of love." An offering of love also means remaining in prayer and in the memory of God.

Therefore, during obediences, the brethren say the Jesus Prayer. Be sure to pray out loud so as not to be distracted and not talk to each other. Those who are engaged in mental work, for example, office workers or guides working with pilgrims, do not pray out loud.

Any obedience has an established order. If circumstances permit, they perform it for a year or two, then give another. Sometimes they leave it for another year. The person performing it must address all questions to his leader (the chief of obedience) or, if necessary, directly to the abbot. This achieves a lot: it does not allow the imagination to rush around and offer solutions, clears the mind of complex and simple thoughts, focuses attention on prayer, teaches one to seek advice and cut off one’s will. To question is to be saved. If there is obedience, there will be humility - the basis of obedience itself.

In konoviya, monastic duties are performed responsibly. Where at least a few people live, there are already a lot of worries. There is no less work to ensure the life of a monastery than in any human society. And only unquestioning obedience and precise diligence can provide a monk with well-being and peace of mind.

For perfect obedience and cutting off thoughts and will, from the first day of life in the Malitsky monastery, monks are required to learn to do any work accurately and consistently. The rules, briefly formulated by Fr. Joachim from the monastery of St. Anna: talk like a monk, look like a monk, eat like a monk, sleep like a monk, think like a monk, pray like a monk, perform obedience like a monk - the fathers try to observe always and everywhere.

MEAL

There is a meal at exactly one o'clock in the afternoon. 5 minutes before it starts, all the inhabitants are notified by rhythmic knocking on an iron beater. The refectory in the monastery is located next to the Intercession Church, inside on the eastern side, there is the abbot’s table; along the walls there are tables for monks and pilgrims; A pulpit with a book stand in the form of a golden eagle for the reader is attached to the western wall, significantly higher than the floor. While eating, the teachings of St. fathers or lives of saints.

The meal depends on the day of the week and preparation for the Communion of the Holy Mysteries. The monks themselves eat little, since food is secondary to them. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - simple, lean food. During fasting, only plant foods are eaten; there is not even olive oil on the tables. Eating fish on a fast day is no small sin. The inhabitants eat food twice a day, never consuming meat or wine. On ordinary days, there is soup, potatoes or pasta, rice, salad, vegetables and fruits on the tables. To drink - herbal tea, dried fruit compote and water. On holidays and Sundays, salted or baked fish, eggs and cocoa can be served.

At the meal, after a short prayer, the brethren eat in silence for no more than 15 minutes. At this time, the Lives of Saints or spiritual teachings are read. Sometimes in front of the abbot’s table you can see a monk performing a punishment for an offense - bowing. During the meal, the abbot rings the bell three times: after the 1st blow, it is allowed to drink, after the 2nd, the reader stops reading, descends from the pulpit and accepts the blessing from the abbot, and the meal (if it is a Sunday) brings the abbot ukrukha (leftover bread) for blessing. , after the 3rd blow, the eating stops, everyone stands up, then prayers of thanks are read. Several prayers are added before the prayers of thanksgiving. petitions pronounced alternately by the abbot and the reader. After the meal, the abbot stands on the right side of the exit with a raised blessing hand; the cook, the reader and the refectorian freeze in a bow opposite the abbot (on the left side of the exit), asking forgiveness from the brethren for possible errors in their service. Thus, everyone leaving the refectory “falls” under the blessing of the Father Superior. After the meal, the fathers again disperse according to obedience.

VESPERS

An hour before the start of Vespers, after monastic labors, rest is allowed. This helps the brethren to have the strength to pray at the evening service. Twice, in half an hour and a quarter to a quarter, the sound of a wooden beat again calls all the inhabitants to the temple. Vespers, preceded by the reading of the 9th hour, begins at 5 pm. It lasts about an hour and ends with a daily funeral litany, performed in the narthex. The evening meal follows immediately after the service.

Dinner often consists of the same dishes and in the same quantities as at lunch, only cold. Only sick people are allowed to take food out of the refectory. Infirm brothers from among the laity living in the monastery and bearing a certain obedience are allowed to drink tea with a piece of bread in the evening. You can sometimes drink tea in your cell and during obedience, but you must definitely take a blessing for this. In general, blessings are taken for any action, even the most insignificant.

After dinner, the brethren immediately go to the temple to celebrate Compline. On it, a prayer canon is sung to the Mother of God in front of the Vatopedi icon “Consolation and Consolation”, and then the abbot anoints everyone with oil from the lamp burning in front of the holy image. Also during Compline, an akathist to the Mother of God is read daily. This Svyatogorsk feature is never omitted, since the Mother of God is the guardian not only of Her earthly destiny - Holy Mount Athos, but also the Mother of all monks in general. Compline ends with prayers for the coming sleep. At the end of the service, to the Byzantine singing of the Theotokos troparion “To the beauty of your virginity...”, all the monks venerate the icons and take a blessing from the abbot for the coming night.

After Compline (at 19.15) there is a short period of time, about an hour, when there is an opportunity to talk with each other. But then conversations with anyone, including pilgrims, are not blessed, so as not to fall into idleness and condemnation. Talking a lot is harmful; it negatively affects monastic work. Monks have no special need to communicate with each other: if a monk is attentive to himself, observes the monastic rules and does not hide his thoughts from his confessor, grace consoles him and he has no great need to speak. Evening silence should prepare your mind for night prayer.

After Compline, monks are also strictly forbidden to enter the cells of pilgrims without a blessing. Radio and television are prohibited in the monastery. No one leaves the monastery without a blessing.

HYGIENE

The ancient founders of monasticism were indifferent to the body for the sake of saving the soul. Thus, the father of monasticism, St. Anthony the Great (251-326) ate bread and salt, lived in caves, without observing hygiene. Previously, monks in Svyatogorsk monasteries were forbidden and considered a sin to wash their hair, comb their hair or beard, or go to the bathhouse. Very strict ascetics did not wash their faces, washing only with their own tears. Nowadays, the rules regarding personal hygiene have relaxed. Monks are allowed to bathe, and treatment with medication is mandatory. There is a monastery doctor who often comes to the monastery and regularly examines each monk and worker. If serious symptoms are detected, hospitalization is carried out in a regional hospital. Health is God’s gift, and the monastery takes it very seriously.

Some rules have remained unchanged: do not expose your body unless absolutely necessary, even your arms while working. Among monks, seeing a person, for example in shorts, with bare legs (not to mention women) is considered great indecency.

DREAM

Monks sleep in clothes: in cassocks, loosening the belt, in thin cloth skufs and socks, so as to always be ready for prayer, obedience and for the Last Judgment. Sleep occupies exactly the same place in monastic life as eating: monks sleep as much as necessary in order not to lose their sanity and be able to fulfill their obediences. Usually it is 5-6 hours. It should be noted that the dormitory regulations are specially written in such a way that meal times are never combined with rest and sleep times. This is a very important point from an ascetic point of view.

The pilgrims living in the monastery gradually accustom themselves to a strict routine. They also have to get out of bed long before dawn for church services, and in order to understand and experience the whole essence of monastic reality, this really needs to be done.

The day is divided into approximately 3 eight hours, reserved for prayer, work and rest. Ancient Greek The verse describes the daily work of a monk this way: (Γράφε, μελέτα, ψάλλε - στέναζε, προσεύχου, σιώπα) “Write, study, sing, sigh, pray, be silent.”

Just like yesterday, at 6:00 the alarm clock man came to see us. Came in, woke me up, left. This time I woke up very hard. I didn't sleep well. I went outside. Warm. There is no wind. You can hear the chirping of birds and the “morning dawn” of a rooster from the farm. I went to the temple to look for the abbot. Valery is fussing around the icon shop; he learned from him that the rector is still in town and will be there sometime after lunch. I looked at the schedule - I need to help on the farm for the whole day. I was a little upset, because my plans were to mind my own business.
I went to the temple. It's dark as usual. Several monks in their black robes sit on chairs waiting for the service to begin. So the captain arrived in time. He stood in the far corner, took his rosary out of his pocket, fiddled with it and muttered something under his breath. The service began as scheduled, at 6:30 the same monotonous singing flowed through the temple. I decided not to stay in the service until the end. At 7:10 I decided to leave to film the preparation for breakfast.
Andrey is on duty in the refectory today.

Worker Vitaly as an assistant. Took a few shots.

General shots of the "kitchen".
I decided to try my luck at the service, maybe I could shoot something else there. I entered the temple just as the captain was reading aloud. I took a couple of shots. I sat down on the bench. I'm waiting for the end of the service. I decided to work on the farm for a maximum of an hour, and then break my obedience and go about my work. At 7:40 my stomach gave a loud “boo-boo-boo” alert. It's time to have breakfast. Soon the rumbling of the stomach merged with the rumbling of prayers. The service is over. I hurried to breakfast. It's 8:30. Home tomorrow morning. I plan to take the morning ferry. I really want to capture the city at the first rays of sun. Still no abbot. What if he doesn’t come back today?! What then?! I really need him, I need his blessing so that I can photograph the monks’ cells, visit the prosphora, if possible, the altar, and take a few shots with him. In the meantime, I’ll go to the farm to fulfill my errand. On the way, the phone vibrated again. There is a connection! To celebrate, I sent several SMS, called and answered a couple of letters. Andrey met me at the farm. He said to sweep the yard again.
Along the way, he helped Vasily carry a heavy can of milk to the gatekeeper. Returned to his work. To the side, Andrei is kneading a brew for the livestock. Someone is messing with the cows. Tomorrow a journalist will arrive and interview the abbot of the monastery. Well, we’ll go back to the city together. Almost a third of the farm has already been swept away. It’s time to start our direct work – collecting material.
First of all, I went to the most talkative inhabitant of the monastery - Father Valery. He was reading a book in the icon shop. He willingly agreed to comment. Father Valery is a novice at the church. Lives in the monastery for about a year, performs the duties of a church shopkeeper. Novice Valery is 51 years old. I had never interviewed people in my life, so I only asked questions that specifically interested me. For a long time I could not understand why people throw away their lives, leave a comfortable civilized society and go to a monastery.
“People go to the monastery for several reasons. The best and most worthy reason is, of course, love for God. An inseparable search for the living God and dedicate all your strength, all your zeal, all your labors only to him alone. Give him your whole heart so that it will always be in the Lord. There is another reason, this reason is repentance. This is a person when he has exhausted all his life resources that he had in the world. He became weak, he squandered his spiritual wealth, he squandered the talents that the Lord had given him. Left, as they say, naked, the soul remained naked, the soul remained hungry, the soul remained unwarmed. And then, having come to his senses, a person repents and seeks such paths of repentance that would further contribute to this repentance and here is the most convenient, convenient, most convenient place, the most convenient path. To follow the path of repentance, the path of purification, the path of salvation,” Valery answered my question, “Well, for me, the monastery is the house of God, this is the house of the Most Holy Theotokos, this is my calling.”
That's it. Next I had to go to the pasture to take some shots of the shepherd with the cows. Walk a short distance to the local cemetery. Having left the monastery, I felt a certain freedom, even breathing became a little easier. Having reached the coastline, I saw the outlines of a foggy city in the distance. Vladivostok. In addition, 3G Internet appeared on the phone. I was able to download a couple of Instagrams, answer all the emails and messages on social networks.
With the player in his ears, he slowly walked through the cemetery to the pasture. An ordinary meadow, there are cows lying in the meadow, I counted about 10 of them.
A shepherd in a green military suit. Sacred music plays quietly from the receiver. Worker Valery played the role of a shepherd today.
Took a few shots. They called from work. Long negotiations led to the fact that, without noticing it, he reached the monastery, forgetting to interview Valery.
Entering the territory of the monastery, I noticed Father Spiridon tinkering with a ZIL truck. He didn't mind me taking pictures of him.

He took several good shots, asked about what it was like to be a monk, what responsibilities fall on his shoulders, how obediences are distributed.
“The monastic lifestyle is renunciation of the world. This is the fulfillment of God’s commandments, but above all – one’s monastic vows. The monastic vow is a vow of obedience, a vow of celibacy, a renunciation of the world. Man left the world in order to become closer to God; nothing stopped him. Work in the monastery is distributed in such a way that everyone has some kind of obedience. The cook cooks for everyone. They are working in the barnyard. The handyman accepts and distributes things, washes, irons, also for everyone. It turns out that everyone does their own work, but all this work of everyone is included in the general obedience for organizing prayer and life in the monastery. But above all, it is salvation. The goal of monasticism is to save yourself and the whole world through prayer. And above all, the salvation of your soul. As the Russian proverb said: “Save yourself, thousands around you will be saved.” Life according to God's commandments, far from the world. The goal of a monk is to unite with God in this world and the future,” Father Spyridon concluded his thought by comparing monastic life with the life of a soldier. Hard daily work to ensure the life of the monastery as a whole. Having finished with the questions, I decided to climb onto the roof of the building under construction. Perhaps it will offer a good view of the monastery territory. Uzbeks are working at the construction site, I didn’t take pictures of them.
It is planned to house a garage, utility rooms, refectories, Sunday school, cells, etc. in this building.

Privratnitskaya
Apiary
Monastic cells
Afterwards I went to the farm, I need to find out about the number of livestock on the farm. At the same time I asked several questions. Laborer Andrey. 26 years. In the monastery for six months. I asked just one question: “What is the purpose of coming to the monastery?” He answered slowly and hesitantly, probably embarrassed. Don't know. Well, the goal was to look for internal habits, awareness of life, to become more involved in the church, to compare oneself with people who have gone through the spiritual path, and against their background to see one’s differences from them. I’m not ready for monastic life yet, but I’m looking closely.
Our conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the bell - lunch. Long awaited lunch. I have never walked around the temple grounds so quickly before. For lunch today there is vegetable soup, horns, mushrooms and salad. Tea or compote to choose from.

Prayer before meals.
After lunch, I went to my cell to decipher everything that I managed to write down. We need to wait for the abbot.
After completing the work, I decided to check the presence of Father Peterim at the apiary. This time I was lucky.
The monk was busy with the bees, prepare the hive for feeding the bees. At the same time, I asked him about the construction of a new building on the territory of the monastery. According to Peterim, the abbot plans to place there a Sunday school, refectories, a car garage, a warehouse, as well as several cells for monks.
Next we talked about the apiary itself. At the moment there are 44 hives on the farm.

They asked me to help. They dressed me in a white robe and put a special panama hat with mesh on my head. The work was simple, you just had to separate the pieces from the hive and put them on the ground. This had to be done very carefully, because... Bees really don't like the sound of knocking. There were no casualties.
Then I went to help prepare syrup for the bees. Two buckets of water are poured into the can, then everything is filled with sugar, in a ratio of 2 to 1 (2 kg of sugar per 1 liter of water). After this, mix everything very thoroughly. A regular sugar syrup is formed, a little thick. Bees love sweets. The syrup is then poured into the kettle and fed into the feeder. That's all. The last task was quite simple, to help take out the plywood with wax. Vladimir prepares it for making candles. That's it, time to run to work. Then the long-awaited dinner. I really want to eat. The service itself lasted 30 minutes. Hence the late dinner. After eating, traditional rules. After the rules, I managed to agree with the rector about tomorrow’s interview, and at the same time informed me about my departure tomorrow. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to photograph the cell. They said that I already have so much that a simple layman would not see. Now free time and lights out as usual. Took a few shots of the library.

Tomorrow we get up at 6 am sharp, and by 9 am we need to get on the ferry to meet the journalist. Stay somewhere for an hour and a half, wait for the end of the service in order to interview the rector. And that’s it... It will be possible to say goodbye to everyone and go to the mainland. First of all, I’ll go to the editorial office, then to the bar, later I need to pay a fine for a loan, pay off another loan... In general, do ordinary worldly things... Again plunge into the world of bustle, problems, city traffic... But this is my world, my element. I feel comfortable living in this city bustle. Although the monastery is not so bad. No problem at all. There is obedience, you fulfill it. Everything is strictly on time. There is practically no free time; there is always work to be done. This was a small indulgence for me, because... I had a work visit. Okay, this concludes the description of the third day. Tomorrow is a new day. New impressions. Home tomorrow.