The Hermitess Photini {discussion one}
- Some of you have emailed me or commented on facebook that you've finished the entire book. That's awesome! Just please keep in mind that members were only required to read through page 72, so no spoilers. We'll only discuss what happened in the assigned chapters.
- Be courteous and respectful of others opinions. While opinions will differ and certain things might/should be debated, the discussions need to remain friendly and professional.
- From now on, I think it would be fun for each member to come up with one question. It should be open-ended and debatable, but specific enough to promote a focused discussion. This will help keep the conversation well-rounded, instead of it being based on my perspective alone. Email your questions and I'll choose several of them for each discussion.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions! If you're not familiar with a term or saint or whatever, please ask. We're all here as a family, hoping to learn and grow together.
- My thoughts are below, some of them just things to ponder, others are prompts and questions for you to answer. The questions are bold and italicized. Answer one of them or all of them in the comment section for others to read and discuss. Feel free to comment on anything mentioned in this post, even if not a "question".
That being said, let's begin!Whenever I read about hermits or ascetics, I'm amazed at how little we really need to survive. On page 44, she mentions some of the things she took with her into the wilderness; "a spade, a knife, an earthen cooking pot, a small axe, and a little wheat and legumes for planting."That passage got me thinking about what I would take with me, if I were in her position. I would take a few of my prayer books, my bible, a prayer rope, holy oil, an icon, blanket, several different knives and utensils, pot, drinking glass, some rope, a flour mill, water purifier, various seeds (non-hybrids, lol). The mere thought of only having those possessions listed both scares and thrills me. What would you take with you? On page 29, Fr. Kallistratos said to the others about Fr. Joachim's appearance, "Ah! You must have found some treasure [that is, a hermit] on the other side! Don't you see how his face is shining with joy?"We often read about saints or people encountering the Grace of God, from either a vision of God Himself (Moses on Mt. Sinai) or by getting a taste of that Grace from some holy person. Have you ever met someone that made you feel the way Fr. Joachim felt after his first encounter with Photini; like you've discovered a treasure? I've obviously never experienced a moment where my countenance changed, but I get that same feeling every time I visit Geronda Ephraim in Arizona. The first time I met him I was eighteen years old and knew basically nothing about the church, despite having been raised in it my entire life. He had come to a local church to hear confessions (this was before he established the two monasteries currently in Florida). He doesn't speak English, and my Greek isn't very good, so there was another monk there to interpret. I told him my confession and he asked me if that was it and I said yes. I really thought it was, so I knelt down for him to place his stole over my head and read the prayer. But while I was there, kneeling at his feet, he looked at me with such a loving and tender expression that it felt like he was my grandfather; like I knew him my whole life. He moved his prayer rope rapidly between his fingers and began asking me very detailed questions about things I'd done in my life, things I had honestly forgotten all about. Things I had passed off as "not a big deal", but were sins nonetheless, things I had never told anyone. After he asked several questions, I began to cry. I had no idea why I was crying, he hadn't said anything to upset me, my spirit was just so overwhelmed with God's grace that I couldn't control myself. I had this peaceful, overflowing feeling inside of me and it lasted for several days. It was the first time I had ever experienced something spiritual. It was also the driving force in my seeking out the teachings and beliefs of the Church. That confession began my journey into true Orthodoxy.Photini's friend Sophia remarked (pg. 24), "Oh no! Those nuns are all hypocrites. Don't you know, Mr. John? No good girl ever goes and becomes a nun. Only ugly ones that nobody wants to marry go to a monastery, supposedly to become saints!" Do you think people still feel this way toward others becoming monastics/clergy? Why?I would have to say yes. I've heard people make comments about monastics in particular, sadly, quite similar to Sophia's thoughts. I think the main reasons for this are fear and lack of faith. Most people who feel like that do not understand the impending judgment into eternity we will all face, so they can't understand why someone would give up their entire life for something so intangible. Those that do understand, I think just have a natural fear of change, maybe a fear of losing that child, grandchild, or whoever to a monastery or the difficult life of a priest who takes responsibility for countless souls and tasks.As I read Chapter 16, Search for a Monastery, I wondered how liberating it would feel to give away everything and not be tied down by social obligations (and networks). I cancelled my personal facebook page a couple of months ago and immediately felt a huge weight lifted! I can't pinpoint why exactly, I just know if felt good, one less worldly obligation. What are your thoughts on that? How much is too much when it comes to worldly obligations? how do you decipher between what is worth it and what isn't?Photini also confesses that she thought about continuing to protect herself by dressing as a man and sneaking on to the Holy Mountain. Of course, she quickly realizes that even if she got away with it, she would be disgracing herself and violating a law the Holy Fathers decreed. I'm not sure this is a discussion question, but I have to confess I've had that same thought myself. It was fleeting, of course. :) So women, confess. How many of you have thought about that? And guys, is the Holy Mountain a place you would ever want to visit?On page 42 of that chapter Photini thinks, "Just look, I am all alone! My mother has passed away, and so has my father; I have no siblings or relatives! Why should I stay in the world? Why don't I go into the wilderness? And whenever God wills, let Him take my soul...If I harm my soul and am deprived of our Lord Jesus Christ's presence, what good was it for me to be born into the world at all?" Wow. How I wish I thought that way! I think that passage is a good reminder that no matter how devastating certain events in our lives may truly be, God does everything for the benefit of our salvation. It's a calming thought...On pages 46-47, St. Mary of Egypt appears to Photini and tells her to have courage and Christ will continue to strengthen her. This made me think about how blessed we are to have the intercessions of the saints. At our supplication they rush to our side and aide!
When I'm asked by non-Orthodox friends why we need saints, my {nutshell} answer is usually this, "Christ is the king of a kingdom, right? Just like in earthly kingdoms, the king has many servants who have specific jobs and being a part of the king's court is a prestigious honor! The king could do everything himself, but he doesn't, why would he? In our Church it works the same way. Christ is the king, we are all his servants. But those who prove their faithfulness, become a part of His court, each receiving a specific job from Him. It's not that they are in any way equal to the king, their power is only given to them by Him, their job a gift from Him that. If we were approaching an earthly king with a request, we would take someone with us, preferably someone who was part of his court who was known and loved by Him, to help persuade him to fulfill our request. It's exactly the same thing when we ask the intercessions of the saints."In the chapter entitled Lunch in the Cave, they talk about how Fr. Joachim brought Easter eggs to the hermitess. She was overjoyed at this, telling him she hadn't eaten an egg in six years! When he asked why, because there was an abundance of various bird eggs around, she told him it was because she didn't want to grieve the mother birds who entertained her with their singing. She goes on to talk about the different birds and their singing and what a beautiful thing it is to be out there alone with nature. I thought about the last time I took a quiet walk. It had been so long ago! I decided to pack the kids up and take a short walk up the street. It may not have been very quiet, but we looked for different birds and wildlife and tried to stay quiet enough to hear them sing. Why not take a walk and appreciate the beauty around you today?I also loved how they cracked their eggs and gave the Paschal greeting to each other like we do at Pascha. What a sweet gesture. To read more about how this tradition began, click here.
The Hermitess Photini's daily prayer schedule included the Jesus Prayer, Matins, Vespers, Compline, the Hours and as many metanoias/prostrations as she could do in an hour. Which of these things could you begin to incorporate into your daily prayer schedule? *It is always a good idea to discuss these things with your spiritual father, as well.On page 65, Father Joachim asks her how she knew certain thoughts were from the devil and she responds, "I realized to some extent that they were from the 'hater of good' because they created an inner turmoil..." What do you think about that? Do you think it's a good way to try to distinguish where your thoughts are coming from? I had asked an elder about an incident someone I know was having with an icon. Every day, this person would wake up and the icon would be face down on the floor in the next room. She would pick it up, kiss it and return it to her dresser. The next morning, the same thing would happen. She didn't know if it was the devil playing tricks on her or if the saint was trying to tell her something, so she asked me to ask this elder. The first question he asked me was, "How does she feel when this happens? Is she afraid or is there a peace present?" I told him she was afraid and he said, usually that is a good general rule. Of course, these things should always be discussed with your spiritual father because the devil is very cunning and can trick those of us who are inexperienced in those matters.A few other thoughts I had while reading...
- I love the verse quoted from Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave thee or forsake thee." (pg. 45)
- I never realized St. Mary of Egypt's relics were never discovered.
- It was neat to read how the animals would stop to listen to her chant. We read about these peaceful encounters many times in the lives of the saints, like St. Seraphim of Sarov with the bears, and my patron saint Sevastiane with the lions.
- I love how she said she was the happiest person on earth because she was delivered from world's complications. (pg. 67)
- Fr. Joachim prayed to St. John of Damascus to help him understand the Scriptures.
- God doesn't need us, we need Him.
- Her heart prayed even when she was sleeping.
What parts of the book did you enjoy or not enjoy?In the book Path to Salvation, St. Theophan the Recluse wrote,"Often one text will warm the spirit for more than a day. There are lives of which the mere remembrance is enough to inflame zeal. There are also passages in patristic writings that inspire. Therefore, we have a good rule: Write down such passages and save them in case your spirit needs to warm itself later."So, as we continue reading, why not keep a notebook and pencil handy and write down the passages that warm your spirit?The next reading assignment is to read the remainder of The Hermitess Photini. Also if you're going to participate in the optional readings of Counsels from the Holy Mountain, please read the first chapter, On Salvation and Paradise. We'll begin discussing these readings next week, on roughly April 6. We'll also begin reading our next book, The Purple Mantle that day. :)**PLEASE NOTE: OrthodoxChristianChildren.com is offering a 20% discount on book club titles for members. Please see this post for details...
