Holy Protection Monastery

Good morning! Feeling much better today, sickness almost gone!! Took a radical change for the better overnight thank God! Hanging out with my older boys Demetrios & Nicholas while the baby naps, doing a little work & writing online, its raining outside but if it dries out we're thinking park & perhaps the local pool later.

I'm planning to go back to the monastery (Holy Protection) Sunday...so excited!!! Baby Anthony Ronan & I went last Sunday afternoon, but missed the service. It was so beautiful, healing & peaceful!!!!! Here are a couple pics I took:

 

 

                                              View from the parking lot..... So beautiful!!!!!

 

Inside the sacred little churchl!!

 

 

At the front of the church....hallowed ground.....

 

 

 

A little chapel outside, with iconic shrines & a little bell...

 

 

 

The baby played here a while on the benches while I spoke with a Sister. This is an amazing, tiny dollhouse-sized shrine with icons right next to the benches.

 

The Sisters LOVE babies & children!!!!! They are very special to them & always shower them with love & attention. Needless to say, Baby Anthony "RoRo"  soaked it up, he loved them too! Aww!

 

 

I didn't want to leave! I desired to speak with the Gerontisa (Greek for Abbess), but she was resting in her room when I went back to the giftshop & asked for her. Next time! I want to get her blessing to take more pictures too-these were just quick ones I snapped with the baby on my phone.

 

 

I want to volunteer time to help them do simple tasks they need done, if I am able. We'll see! I used to do that at another monastery we used to visit in Brownsburg outside of Montreal, Quebec. Many ladies would all sit & talk about beautiful things with the sisters as we all worked to package homegrown mountain tea, or cut out labels for the jars, or do a variety of simple tasks they need help with. It was just wonderful! We love the monasteries!

 

We picked up a small beaded moonstone cross, a jar of delicious raw honey blessed by Agia Skepi, & a little Resurrection icon pin for the baby, its beautiful. He "helped" me pick everything out. ;-) I always like to get at least a little something to support the sisters, they work extremely hard & are very self-sufficient. They make all kinds of beautiful jams, preserves, baked goods, candles, handpainted icons & much, much more, to sell & support themselves. They tend their own gardens, fruit trees & greenhouse.

 

Here is a link to the monastery:

 

http://www.holyprotectionmonastery.org/en/mainpage.html

 

Have a blessed day!

 

Love, Christine Elizabeth

 

Paraklesis to the Theotokos (Mother of God)....

              The Service of the Small Paraklesis (Intercessory Prayer) to the Most  Holy Theotokos
                                    http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/paraklesis

 

 

I haven't done this for a long time!! It takes about an hour to read or chant, it seems rather long at times but is so effective & soothing to the spirit. Oh Panagia, please help us & heal us all. I love thee!