Monasteries Outside Egypt, Blessings and Challenges

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Keraza Magazine issue 3-4 January 25, 2013

Monasticism is the backbone of the church, carrying and protecting it, as did Moses with Joshua in his war with the Amalekites. Moses symbolizes monasticism, with lifted hands to heaven, praying for Joshua, who symbolizes the ranks of the servants, consecrated deacons, and clergy fighting against Amalek, symbolic of Satan (Exodus 17:8-13).

Each time Moses lifted up his hands, Joshua would prevail over the Amalekites, and whenever Moses let down his hands, Joshua would be defeated by the Amalekites. Victory of the serving church that struggles in the world exists in the uplifted hands in the wilderness beseeching God on her behalf.

Monastics are the watchmen for Jerusalem (the church) who cry out day and night before God not to keep silent until He establishes the church and makes her a praise in all the earth: "I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (Isaiah 62:6-7).

Based on this, we say that monasticism is an absolute necessity for the church, especially outside Egypt. In these countries, materialism has spread in a terrifying way, and the dollar truly has become a god and lord, worshipped by millions. It has become impossible for them to worship God and this dollar jointly, as the Lord of glory has said, "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Luke 16:13). Here is where the role of monasticism comes in, to fight against this god (money) through the life of asceticism, detachment, and the vow of voluntary poverty –witnessing to the whole world that to God only must one worship, and to Him alone must one serve (Matthew 4:10). These are the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, with which He fought the demon of money, ownership, and possessiveness.

In these countries, sin and immorality have also spread, and sin became unabashed, displaying itself and alluring many to leave their chastity. Many have fallen into its reins in pursuit of pleasure and fulfilling bodily desires, losing all self-control, and becoming slaves to another god, a severe subjugating god who takes away from their humanity: "whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame" (Philippians 3:19). This is where monasticism witnesses to the life of celibacy, self-control, and restraining physical desires and longings, elevating them to a higher level, because true satisfaction is in unity with God, Who gives the water of life which quenches the thirst of all who drink of it (John 4:14). Through the vows of celibacy and chastity, monasticism attests to this deteriorating world that "one thing is needed" (Luke 10:42), and that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

In these countries, a third god appeared, a fearsome terrifying god –the ego. As selfish egoism spread, people’s attitude became, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). Where there is selfishness, there is no place for love, so, giving sacrificial unconditional love (Agapy) disappeared, to be replaced by lust (Eros) which aims at worshipping the ego and fulfilling all its desires. Most amazingly, this god (the ego) often asks God for His blessings, and to send angels to protect its selfishness, lusts, and desires (Matthew 4:6), unaware that the absence of love is the absence of God, because "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Here, monasticism, with its vows of obedience and ego-mortification, is a witness against this selfish god, who not only wants to sit on God’s throne, but furthermore, dares to tempt God asking Him to participate in protecting it, at which point monasticism cries out, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God" (Matthew 4:7).

Here, it becomes clear that monasticism outside Egypt is a dire necessity to witnessing to God, through a living application to the commandment against the gods of money, desire, and the ego. Monasticism has spread in many countries outside Egypt, and we have seen with our eyes the blessings of the existence of the monasteries and the monastics. We saw many incidents of repentance that occurred inside the monasteries, where the commandment was alive, a living example for people to emulate. The monasteries have also become places for stillness and retreat, sought out by many believers seeking to sit under the Lord’s feet away from world commotion, concerns, preoccupations, and pleasures that choke the word of God, and even the person (Luke 8:14).

Many challenges also stood in the way of the monasteries outside Egypt. Among them are: the absence of skillful elders experienced in the monastic life; excessive openness to the world, which is against the essence of monasticism and its definition –severing from all to unite with the One; and, oftentimes, due to the dire need for servants, priests, and consecrated deacons, many monks came out of their monasteries for service, and the monastery became akin to a residency for deacons, a retreat center, or a conference center, although it was necessary for monasticism to first be firmly grounded in these monasteries.

We place these blessings and these challenges to the monasteries outside Egypt in the hands of the Lord, asking the guidance of His Holy Spirit, for these monasteries to witness to Christ in full force, and for these monasteries to be a true cause for victory and conquest over Satan, who fights against the people of God, but will not overcome them.

Bishop Youssef
Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States