Category: Uncategorized
Our Period of Lenten Solitude
13
Mar
2020
The city of Seattle and the Puget Sound area still remain one of the hot-spots of the covid-19 virus, though, and we feel that traveling to this area (or any other hotbed of cases of infection) should only be undertaken in great need. This especially applies for children (who are easily infected), the immuno-compromised, and the elderly (who are more likely to suffer from serious illness or worse).
For the moment we have decided to close the gates of the monastery to visitors for a short time, until further notice.
With this in mind, while on the one hand we will still close the gates to visitors in general, on the other we will still be available for people with pastoral needs, and we can be contacted about these. We will also be available to meet up on a case by case basis, as is needed.
Furthermore, we will still conduct our coffee business and our online store will continue to operate as usual.
Of course, if, God forbid, any of the monastics should contract the virus the monastery will be quarantined as a whole, and closed off to anyone else.
We ask for everyone’s continued prayers during these trying times for all, and remind everyone that while it is normal and right to take reasonable precautions in accord with one’s personal circumstances, it is equally important in such times of trial to live in accordance with the Gospel commandments and make oneself and one’s Saviour available to others. We are all in need of the Saviour, and sometimes God permits difficult times like this to draw both our and others’ attention to the “one thing needful”.
With love and blessings,
Abbot Tryphon
Let us all join together in reciting the following prayers each and every day, until this pandemic has come to an end:
“More than all others we have sinned against Thee and we have transgressed, O Master, and if we have not acquired repentance instead of repentance accept our offering. And having set Thyself to mercy, as Thou art almighty, free Thy servants from death bearing sickness and grievous afflictions, groaning in pain we pray Thee, quickly hearken and have mercy.”
“We have sinned and we have transgressed, and therefore Thy righteous anger has visited us, O Lord, our God; and the darkness of death has encompassed us and we have drawn nigh unto the gates of Hades. But, with compunction, we cry out unto Thee, our God, in our infirmities: Spare, O spare Thy people, and destroy us not utterly, humbly we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.”
“O Lord, Who rules by life and by death: do Thou not enclose the souls of Thy servants in death, but turn aside from wrath and forsake anger, for our days vanish like smoke, and our strength has wasted away, and we are perishing utterly because of our sins. Be Thou merciful unto Thy servants who are repenting with tears, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.”
(Taken from the “Molieben Sung in Time of Devastating Epidemic and Death-bearing Pestilence”)
Some new icons available for a limited time!
09
Mar
2020
The icon of St. Paisios of Mt. Athos that was made available a few months ago sold out in a flash! So we have prepared another handful of icons by the same iconographer (John Swenson) to offer to those who are interested just in time for the Great Fast!
These icons are also available for a limited time and in very limited quantities.
They include an icon of the “Nevskaya Quick to Hear” Mother of God, an icon of St. John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco and an icon of the Hieromonk Seraphim Rose (of Platina) – the latter being one of the most requested of John’s icons to be made available.
These icons, as before with the icon of St. Paisios of Mt. Athos, have as their dimensions 5 x 6.25 inches, and are “desktop” icons, meaning they have a stand on the back of the icon that allows it to be propped up on a desk, table or similar surfaces.
Once again, there are very limited quantities available!
A few new products available at the beginning of 2020….
10
Jan
2020
Christ is born! Greetings to you all during the afterfeast of Christ’s Nativity (the time period the Slavic churches sometimes call “Sviatki”). We are pleased to announce that we have a few new items available in our online bookstore!
One of them is a new soap: Grapefruit Rosemary. The clean herbal aroma of rosemary is matched with the light refreshing citrus of grapefruit to make a delightful soap that is perfect for face, hands and body. This is a soap for those who want the benefits of essential oils without being overpowered by the fragrance. The top of each bar has a thin layer of our homegrown ground rosemary to add a mild exfoliating effect.
The other is a limited stock item – and that is the All Merciful Saviour Monastery’s Wall Calendar for 2020!
Also … an announcement of upcoming items. A few months ago we made a small icon of St. Paisios of Mt. Athos available and it sold out extremely quickly! Since we also got a lot of positive feedback about many aspects of the item we have decided to begin to produce other icons in a similar manner, size and price by the same iconographer. They are produced in Greece and take some time to get here to America, and we purchase them in small batches at a time, though, so when they become available they are likely to move quickly!
The New Candlestands have arrived!
24
Dec
2019
On the Eve of the Feast of Saint Herman of Alaska, we’ll be using our new candle stand!
Once again, thank you to all who contributed to purchasing these beautiful items – the interior of the Church gives off a lovely, prayerful feel. ^^
