The monasteries we visited

Thank you! To everyone who attended our summer series of virtual visits to monasteries; to our wonderful speakers who shared their experiences so freely; to those who generously donated; and to those who have watched the recordings of the sessions they could not attend (available here). With a top-up donation from the Fellowship, each monastery we featured will receive £425 towards their life and work.

And thank you to everyone who completed our feedback questionnaire. There was a clear wish to have some more sessions that people could join. We are currently working on the precise programme, but here is advance notice that we will be holding a winter series of virtual visits to saints and holy places. Look out for more details and registration on the website!

As we face changing restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic, please remember we have some resources collected together for you. If have something you would like us to add to the list, let us know in the comments!

Lebanon and the monastic revival

In our final virtual visit, this week we will be considering the monastic revival in Lebanon in two locations, Kaftoun and Hamatoura. Our guide will be Amal Morcos who wrote her Master’s Thesis on the revival of monasticism in the Church of Antioch.

Thursday 3 September, 19:00 BST (7pm UK time).*

Register for Zoom details (if you have not done so already) on our dedicated web page, which also has links to the recordings of previous sessions.

Come and See!

* Time zones: For those joining from the US: 2pm EDT; 1pm CDT; 12pm MDT; 11am PDT. Check out the time zone converter if you need it.

Monasticism in the New World!

In this week’s virtual visit, we will be guided around Transfiguration Monastery, Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, USA. And even though it will be geographically placed in the New World, there are links back to Europe. Well-known in the US, the monastery deserves to be better known in the UK! Mother Seraphima, choir director at the monastery, will be our guide.

Come and join us on Thursday 27 August, 19:00 BST (7pm UK time)!*

Register for Zoom details (if you have not done so already) on our dedicated web page, which also has links to the recordings of previous sessions.

* Time zones: For those joining from the US: 2pm EDT; 1pm CDT; 12pm MDT; 11am PDT. Check out the time zone converter if you need it.

Autumn colours at Transfiguration Monastery

Meet the Optina Elders

We are halfway through our virtual visits to monasteries and this week will be guided through the spirituality and history of Optina monastery in Russia by Dr Anna Rogozhina. Our visit will be on Thursday 20 August at 19:00 BST (7pm, London time). Join us!

If you have not already registered for the series, send your name and email address via the page below and you will be sent the Zoom details for the session. Recordings of previous sessions are also linked from this page: https://forerunner.org.uk/summer-series-2020/.

Skete of the Forerunner, Optina

O Lord, grant me to meet everything that this coming day may bring me with spiritual peace. Grant me to surrender myself gladly to Thy holy will. In every hour of this day, support me in all my undertakings. Teach me to accept whatever news I may receive in the course of the day with peace of soul and with the firm conviction that Thy holy will is in all things. In all my words and actions, direct my thoughts, feelings and senses. In all unforeseen events, grant me not to forget that everything is sent by Thee. Teach me to act frankly and reasonably with everyone I meet, that none may be disturbed or embittered. O Lord, give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day and all that may happen in the course of the day. Guide my will, and teach me to pray, to believe, to hope, to suffer, to forgive and to love. Amen

Morning prayer of the Optina Elders