monastery musings
monastery musings
Read about some of our most beloved Saints and Martyrs.
Antidoron Bags
From Saint Tabitha’s Studio: Antidoron Bags
St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, encouraged Orthodox Christians to consume a small bit of antidoron and holy water every morning on days they would not be receiving the Eucharist. This way, he said, the first thing that goes into our body would be something blessed.
In the monasteries, we take the remnants of antidoron that is not consumed and while it is soft, cut it into small, quarter-inch pieces. Then it is air-dried on a baking sheet or foil for a few days, after which it is stored in a glass jar or antidoron bag.
The Queen of All Skete’s Antidoron Bags are made for you to carry home the antidoron from your Church and after drying, for its storage. They are crafted of quality white linen. Each bag is an approximate 6″ square with a ribbon drawstring closure with
Sewing Room Update
Sewing Room Update
An example of early monastic needlework: the Felbrigge Psalter is possibly the earliest example of embroidered bookbinding that is still in existence. It is believed to have been made in the late 1300s by Anne de Felbrigge, a nun at the Minoresses Convent in Suffolk, England. The 7 3/4 by 5 3/4 book is worked with fine gold threads. This picture is a restoration of the original
For centuries, nuns have engaged in the sacred obedience of crafting fine textile arts such as embroidery, tapestry weaving, beading, and other needlework to produce items of beauty for bishops, churches, homes of the faithful, and even for royalty. Queens would commission tapestries or embroideries as gifts for their husband, the king, extolling his virtues and successful
Pascha Basket Covers and Tea Towels
Pascha Basket Covers and Tea Towels
Mother Tamara has been busy making Pascha Basket Covers so you will have them in time for the Feast of Feasts on April 12th of 2026. They are embroidered onto 100% cotton and are a 17-inch square to top off your basket. All Pascha Basket covers are $45, plus $10 shipping/handling.
The same designs may be embroidered onto tea towels, for a finished size of 27” by 18”. They are also 100% cotton. The design will go at one end of the towel. Cost is also $45, plus $10 shipping.
To personalize items with family name is an additional $15. Any additional personalization (such as date, occasion, etc.) is an additional $10 for a $25 total personalization cost.
Both Basket Covers and Tea Towels are perfect gifts for:
- Pascha
- Baptisms
- Weddings
- Birthdays
- Hostess gifts
- Christmas
- Graduations
- Housewarming gifts
- Anniversaries
Orders must be received
St. Spyridon’s Fish Meal
Saint Spyridon and the Miracle of the Fish
Translated into English for the Queen of All Skete by
Gerontissa Theonymphe, Παναγιοπουλα Μετοχι (Panagiopoula Μετochi), Corfu, Greece
Greetings from Corfu to all of you who follow the site of the blessed Queen of All Skete, evlogeite! I have translated for you, from Greek, an account of this miracle of our beloved Saint Spyridon. This story is recorded in the works of Saint Maximus the Greek, (Jan. 21/Feb. 3, 1556), who is known as the Spiritual Enlightener of Rus.
As most everyone knows, Corfu is blessed with the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker. These relics have been preserved for many ages in the center of town in an impressive Church called the ‘Ayio’, built in 1589. In order for the faithful to venerate the Saint’s holy relics, throughout the day clerics open the protective doors to the room which houses …
Service of the Synaxis of All the Holy Doctors
Service of the Synaxis of All the Holy Doctors
by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes,
translated By Bishop Spyridon of Amastris.
In 2021, the Greek Orthodox Church established the Sunday following the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Synod as the Sunday of the Synaxis of all the Holy Doctors. This date was chosen because it falls close to the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians (Oct. 17/30) and that of the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (Oct. 18/31), who was a doctor.
On this day, the Greek Church honors medical doctors and all those in the healthcare industry for their essential contribution and ministry to mankind. The Feast and this Liturgical Service conveys the Church’s concern regarding the spiritual care for every sick and suffering person, and sheds light on the need for dialogue between the medical community and the …
The Harmony of Monarchy and Russian Orthodox Christianity
The Harmony Of Monarchy
And Russian Orthodox Christianity
The world is intrigued this year with the crowning of Charles III of the United Kingdom. Yet let us never forget the glorious reign of another monarchy, the Romanov Dynasty. A little more than 100 years ago, just three days before the start of the Great Fast, Tsar-martyr Nicholas II abdicated the throne, on March 15, 1917, bringing to an end to more than 300 years of Romanov rule. After the light of Pascha shone on the world that year, within a few months the enemies of Christ led Russia into a dark phase of its history, with the regicide of the anointed ruler.
Archpriest Constantine Desrosiers, Ph.D., brilliantly asserts that we must not fix our eyes exclusively on earthly political events, but rather on the Mystery of the Holy Spirit working within human history.
The Grand Duke Wladimir Kyrillovich of Russia Book
Now Available!
Excerpt from the book:
“…a Knight of unblemished Russian dignity and honor … the Grand Duke completely accepted the sacrificial task of carrying out the heavy duties and responsibilities of representation, and even more: the leadership of the thousand-year-old Dynasty of the Russian Imperial House, who are the historical descendants of the Byzantine Empire: the founders of Christian culture.”
Page 4
“Along the way, in varying ways and attitudes, the citizenry of Saint Petersburg witnessed … the presence in their midst of Him who might in happier days have been their Tsar. Some disregarded what was happening before them, eager to carry on their work of the day oblivious to anything beyond the desperate search for food and sustenance, the drab drudgery of Lenin’s Promethean hubris. Others stopped to watch in curious and inquiring silence. Still more smiled and waved enthusiastically to the Imperial Family, …
Saint Spyridon Notes
Saint Spyridon notes from Gerontissa Theonymphe on Corfu
Hello to all of you, those who attend the blessed Queen of All Skete, and to those who follow the Site prepared by the Skete. Special greetings to the hard-working Mother Superior, Mother Andrea, Evlogeite!
As you know, Corfu is blessed as the honored owner of the Holy relics of Saint Spyridon, a long story going back many years. The relics are preserved in the enormous Church called the Ayio, in the center of town. Throughout the day the clerics open the protective doors and allow people to venerate the Saint’s
holy relics, whole, intact, lying in a massive silver casket, over which hang numerous candilia [vigil lamps]. Nearby is the right arm of the Saint in a separate Holy Relic box having come more recently to the island. All this time the clerics read names submitted, for health, enlightenment, and …
The Borders of Ukraine
The Borders of Ukraine
Ukraine is a land with vast expanses of wheat and sunflower fields stretching farther than the eye can see; attention to beauty in the smallest of details; hard-working people who are cordial in their hospitality; and so much more that makes it a truly special place.
By God’s grace and through the generosity of Georgiy Belchenko of blessed memory (+2021) and his wife, I was blessed to experience Ukraine with Mother Theodora (in schema Amphilochia, +2015), before the present turmoil.
The one thing that struck us both were the magnificent borders painted on church arches. Mother Theodora, an iconographer, noted that Orthodox church architecture, which often incorporates graceful arches into its design, led to an entire artistic discipline that would enable the arches to be harmoniously united with the overall scheme of the church’s icons, …
Saint Spyridon is quick to hear
Saint Spyridon is quick to hear
A Story from The Optina Garden
The Optina Garden is a beautiful book written by Nina Pavlova, a spiritual daughter of Archimandrite Adrian (Kirsanov). Nina also authored Red Pascha, the account of the three Optina monks murdered by satanists in 1993.
Nina was so captivated with Optina that she purchased a house near the outskirts of the Monastery. Daily she visited with the Elders and monks, which provided her with a privileged connection to the Elders. She kept detailed and valuable notes on events, characters, and dreams. Due to the assistance she provided the Monastery, she was trusted by the elders and with the spiritual guidance they provided her, she received a serious theological education.
Written in Russian, the text was translated into Greek by Father George Konispoliatis. Gerontissa Theonymphe of the Παναγιοπουλα Μετοχι (Panagiopoula Μετochi) in Corfu, Greece, found particularly interesting …
Father John’s Holy Thursday Message
Schema-Archimandrite John (Lewis, +2007)
All his life, Schema-Archimandrite John was of tenuous health. From childhood he suffered with serious asthma. In his adult years, he developed COPD, diabetes, kidney cancer, fistula and many other afflictions. He attributed much of this to having been born on May 6/19, the feast of the Holy Prophet Job, and he patiently accepted it as God’s will. Every time he rose up out of a chair and pain shot through his body he said, “Glory to Thee O God, glory to Thee.” To his spiritual children, this was a motivation to continue in their own struggles, having this example of long-suffering and continued faithfulness to the Lord.
During Holy Week of 2001, he was hospitalized with pneumonia. Whenever he was in the hospital, the caregivers became frustrated as he would not sleep but two hours in any 24-hour period. He would call …
COVID19 Prayer
With the blessing of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, we are providing you with this prayer to print out, post somewhere in your home, and read daily. Normally, this is read by the priest as part of the “Molieben Sung in Time of Devastating Epidemic and Deathbearing Pestilence”. Metropolitan Hilarion has blessed all the laity to read this prayer while we are in the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19.
You may find the entire service in The Great Book of Needs, Vol. IV, published by St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, 1999. If your Church or priest do not have this 4- volume set, it is a wonderful gift item. There is also a smaller, pocket edition that is very much appreciated as a gift as they can take it to homes, hospitals, etc.
Prayer in Time
Saint Varsonofy of Kherson
The Life of Our Venerable Father, Saint Varsonofy of Kherson
Imprisoned 25 times by Communists, Christ Himself appeared to the Saint to strengthen him. After his repose in 1954, a moleben at his grave cured two men of alcoholism.
…
The Theotokos: the Border of the Created upon the Uncreated
The Theotokos: the Border of the Created upon the Uncreated
by
Fr. Constantine Desrosiers
Today I am faced with a truly daunting task. I propose to discuss in an intellectual and scholarly theological manner the All-Holy Theotokos, the Ever-Virgin Mary. Not even the greatest of the ascetics dared to do what I propose and I do ask forgiveness of the Mother of God for my presumption and beg Her to see the innocence of that motivates me.
At the heart of the veneration of the All-Holy Theotokos is the mystery of our salvation, the lynchpin of which is the very incarnation of the divine logos. This must also represent for any objective and candid seeker after Divine Truth the essential characteristic that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions in the world. We are faced today with many religions which fairly claim to be monotheistic, such as Islam and …
A Contemporary Account of Saint Nicholas in China
A Contemporary Account of Saint Nicholas in China
Ο Άγιος Νικόλαος στην Κίνα
From Δεικτες Πορειας, a collection of sermons and writings by Meletios, Metropolitan of Nikopoleos (+2012), published by the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias, 2019, Preveza, Greece. This passage he had translated from Russian into Greek.
Translated for the Queen of All Skete into English by Gerontissa Theonymphe, Παναγιοπουλα Μετοχι (Panagiopoula Μετochi), Corfu, Greece
There beside the Pasing River in China are the ruins of a church which was dedicated to Saint Nicholas. According to tradition the church was built by the Chinese, who also officiated there. Every year on the 6th of December, there is a large celebration continuing until today. How can this be when the Chinese are not Christians? Only a very few Chinese are Christians, yet they show such respect to Saint Nicholas.
Tradition has it that years …
What is the Orthodox response to adversity?
Recently, as I was praying about what inspirational words I could pass on to you, I called to mind +Hieromonk David (Pierce) of blessed memory. When Father David was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor, his life changed instantly. Following his first surgery, I visited Father David, and he venerated the holy relics that I had brought with me. He had a strong faith, was unshaken, and his eyes were fixed on eternity. We began talking about his prognosis, which led into a discussion about contemporary issues facing Orthodox Christians in an increasingly secular society where much is being done to remove “God” from its midst. The result of that visit was an article we co-authored on how the mind of an Orthodox Christian person should react when facing difficult circumstances.
Father David reposed in 2014, and we never published that article. Because of the healing nature of the Skete’s …
How Does an Orthodox Christian Confront an Economic Crisis?
Download this article
Foreword
In 2009, I had the privilege of being a guest at the home of Ioannis and Katerina Kallianiotis. It is always a spiritually profitable experience when I am blessed to be in the home of pious, Orthodox Christian laity. The conversation was always edifying. Ioannis shared stories of his youth on a Greek island, far from the mainland. I recalled my time in Greece, where every Sunday after the Divine Liturgy the faithful gathered in parks or homes and where they had a tradition of ‶lay theologians″ who would speak on various topics. In Ioannis, I saw the sagacity of a lay theologian.
Upon understanding his accomplishment of being published in every Mount Athos journal, I pleaded with him to write something for American Orthodox Christians. At that time the world faced the challenges of the 2008 economic crisis, so I asked him to pen …
Antidoron Bags
From Saint Tabitha’s Studio: Antidoron Bags
St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, encouraged Orthodox Christians to consume a small bit of antidoron and holy water every morning on days they would not be receiving the Eucharist. This way, he said, the first thing that goes into our body would be something blessed.
In the monasteries, we take the remnants of antidoron that is not consumed and while it is soft, cut it into small, quarter-inch pieces. Then it is air-dried on a baking sheet or foil for a few days, after which it is stored in a glass jar or antidoron bag.
The Queen of All Skete’s Antidoron Bags are made for you to carry home the antidoron from your Church and after drying, for its storage. They are crafted of quality white linen. Each bag is an approximate 6″ square with a ribbon drawstring closure with
Sewing Room Update
Sewing Room Update
An example of early monastic needlework: the Felbrigge Psalter is possibly the earliest example of embroidered bookbinding that is still in existence. It is believed to have been made in the late 1300s by Anne de Felbrigge, a nun at the Minoresses Convent in Suffolk, England. The 7 3/4 by 5 3/4 book is worked with fine gold threads. This picture is a restoration of the original
For centuries, nuns have engaged in the sacred obedience of crafting fine textile arts such as embroidery, tapestry weaving, beading, and other needlework to produce items of beauty for bishops, churches, homes of the faithful, and even for royalty. Queens would commission tapestries or embroideries as gifts for their husband, the king, extolling his virtues and successful
Pascha Basket Covers and Tea Towels
Pascha Basket Covers and Tea Towels
Mother Tamara has been busy making Pascha Basket Covers so you will have them in time for the Feast of Feasts on April 12th of 2026. They are embroidered onto 100% cotton and are a 17-inch square to top off your basket. All Pascha Basket covers are $45, plus $10 shipping/handling.
The same designs may be embroidered onto tea towels, for a finished size of 27” by 18”. They are also 100% cotton. The design will go at one end of the towel. Cost is also $45, plus $10 shipping.
To personalize items with family name is an additional $15. Any additional personalization (such as date, occasion, etc.) is an additional $10 for a $25 total personalization cost.
Both Basket Covers and Tea Towels are perfect gifts for:
- Pascha
- Baptisms
- Weddings
- Birthdays
- Hostess gifts
- Christmas
- Graduations
- Housewarming gifts
- Anniversaries
Orders must be received
St. Spyridon’s Fish Meal
Saint Spyridon and the Miracle of the Fish
Translated into English for the Queen of All Skete by
Gerontissa Theonymphe, Παναγιοπουλα Μετοχι (Panagiopoula Μετochi), Corfu, Greece
Greetings from Corfu to all of you who follow the site of the blessed Queen of All Skete, evlogeite! I have translated for you, from Greek, an account of this miracle of our beloved Saint Spyridon. This story is recorded in the works of Saint Maximus the Greek, (Jan. 21/Feb. 3, 1556), who is known as the Spiritual Enlightener of Rus.
As most everyone knows, Corfu is blessed with the Holy Relics of Saint Spyridon the Wonderworker. These relics have been preserved for many ages in the center of town in an impressive Church called the ‘Ayio’, built in 1589. In order for the faithful to venerate the Saint’s holy relics, throughout the day clerics open the protective doors to the room which houses …
Service of the Synaxis of All the Holy Doctors
Service of the Synaxis of All the Holy Doctors
by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes,
translated By Bishop Spyridon of Amastris.
In 2021, the Greek Orthodox Church established the Sunday following the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Synod as the Sunday of the Synaxis of all the Holy Doctors. This date was chosen because it falls close to the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians (Oct. 17/30) and that of the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (Oct. 18/31), who was a doctor.
On this day, the Greek Church honors medical doctors and all those in the healthcare industry for their essential contribution and ministry to mankind. The Feast and this Liturgical Service conveys the Church’s concern regarding the spiritual care for every sick and suffering person, and sheds light on the need for dialogue between the medical community and the …
The Harmony of Monarchy and Russian Orthodox Christianity
The Harmony Of Monarchy
And Russian Orthodox Christianity
The world is intrigued this year with the crowning of Charles III of the United Kingdom. Yet let us never forget the glorious reign of another monarchy, the Romanov Dynasty. A little more than 100 years ago, just three days before the start of the Great Fast, Tsar-martyr Nicholas II abdicated the throne, on March 15, 1917, bringing to an end to more than 300 years of Romanov rule. After the light of Pascha shone on the world that year, within a few months the enemies of Christ led Russia into a dark phase of its history, with the regicide of the anointed ruler.
Archpriest Constantine Desrosiers, Ph.D., brilliantly asserts that we must not fix our eyes exclusively on earthly political events, but rather on the Mystery of the Holy Spirit working within human history.