MONKS AND MERMAIDS (A Benedictine Blog): THE CONVENT OF ST ELIZABETH THE GLORIOUS, ROYAL AND NEW MARTYR, MINSK

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"Today the concept of truth is viewed with suspicion, because truth is identified with violence. Over history there have, unfortunately, been episodes when people sought to defend the truth with violence. But they are two contrasting realities. Truth cannot be imposed with means other than itself! Truth can only come with its own light. Yet, we need truth. ... Without truth we are blind in the world, we have no path to follow. The great gift of Christ was that He enabled us to see the face of God".Pope Benedict xvi, February 24th, 2012

The Church is ecumenical, catholic, God-human, ageless, and it is therefore a blasphemy—an unpardonable blasphemy against Christ and against the Holy Ghost—to turn the Church into a national institution, to narrow her down to petty, transient, time-bound aspirations and ways of doing things. Her purpose is beyond nationality, ecumenical, all-embracing: to unite all men in Christ, all without exception to nation or race or social strata. - St Justin Popovitch

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

THE CONVENT OF ST ELIZABETH THE GLORIOUS, ROYAL AND NEW MARTYR, MINSK

These videos are produced by the Orthodox nuns of The Glorious, Royal and New Martyr St Elizabeth. They have an inspiring story and are great witness to the workings of the Holy Spirit. (To learn more, click here) Here is a brief summary of their story taken from their website which is published in English as well as in their own language. To enter their website click here:

Our convent bearing the name of St Martyr Grand Princess Elisabeth was founded in the settlement of Novinki on the outskirts of Minsk in 1999. The convent originated in an Orthodox Sisterhood of the same name. Since 1996, the Sisterhood has served many care centers, including the National Psychiatric Hospital and Municipal Hospital as well as boarding homes for children and adults with special needs, a TB clinic and a home care facility for mentally challenged children.

The mission of our convent is to provide spiritual and social help to the sick and the suffering. The Convent runs a homestead located 19 miles from Minsk. It helps drug and alcohol addicts as well as socially vulnerable persons tackle their problems and provides the homeless with shelter and care.

To support and develop the above ministries numerous workshops and studios operate within the frameworks of the Sisterhood. These include an icon-painting studio, sewing and embroidery shops, candle workshop, wood-carving and blacksmith workshops. The Sisterhood activities also include religious education and publishing.

The convent and sisterhood have always worked together in serving God and people.

Sisters and brothers of the convent pray for each other daily. On Sundays, after singing the akathist hymn to the St Elisabeth, the brothers and sisters share their experiences in serving people and discuss spiritual issues. All decisions regarding the activities of the convent and the sisterhood are made with the blessing of the convent’s spiritual father, Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok. Full cycle of divine services is held in the churches of the convent and the Psalter is read continuously.

By Divine Providence, a friendship has grown up between this convent and my monastery in Hereford. It began with nuns and sisters coming to Belmont to sell their products. They now come at least once a year; and my abbot and the late Fr Dyfrig has spent happy weeks with them in Minsk. Here are some of the videos they produce: