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Preparing for Great Lent in the Orthodox Tradition

Post of the day News

The Orthodox Church approaches the Great Lent which will start on March 15th according to the Julian calendar. In order to prepare for the Lenten journey, the Church gives us four pre-lenten weeks to help us understand why we fast.

The Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Video of the day Video

The Sunday of the Prodigal Son is the second Sunday of pre-Lent, the weeks of preparation preceding Great Lent. In this video, our sisters and laity will speak about their personal experience and will answer questions connected with the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.

Georgian orthodox chant. Cherubic Hymn

Video of the day Video

The chant Cherubic Hymn is performed by St Elisabeth Convent's Monastic Choir. The Cherubic Hymn is the song of the angels, sung during every Divine Liturgy of the year with the exception of the liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts and those of Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday.

"What's the use of church?"

Video of the day Video

Father Andrey Lemeshonok gives a sermon on the day of commemoration of New Martyrs. "We commemorate New Martyrs and all others who laid down their lives for Christ. Due to them we're in this church today. But we don't know what will happen to us in future."

Q&A: Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican

Video of the day Video

On this first Sunday of the Triodion’s pre-Lenten period, our lay sisters will answer questions about the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican on the spot. Our lay brother Nicholas came up with some interesting questions to the sisters about their own experience.

Spiritual life is our most difficult work

Sermons Sermon of the day

We have two windows on the world - our minds and our hearts. Our eyes and ears tend to see or hear what we want them to. Therefore, we are all learning to pray so we can connect our minds with our hearts.

Growing rich toward God

Sermon of the day Sermons

We ought to work towards becoming rich in the Lord. We should reflect, weigh our every action and check if it conforms to God's will. We must ask ourselves, "Where am I going to gain and lose? What is good and bad in it for me?"

The purpose of our life should come from within

Sermon of the day Sermons

We should have a purpose to our lives, and do all we can to live up to it. Yet some lives look more like an abandoned corner of a field overgrown with weed. People seem to be living them without a sense of purpose, and some may have given up looking for it.

One sin breeds another

Sermon of the day Sermons

If only Adam could have said, while still in the Garden of Eden: "Forgive your indocile and disorderly servant, O Lord, for not listening to you". Sin acts on us subtly and covertly. We transgress once, and we cannot stop.

Brother Dmitry's obediences

Essays and interviews

He visited Saint Elisabeth Convent ten years ago, and he already knew then that it was his home. We Asked Brother Dmitry Akhremkin to talk about his obediences at the Convent and tell us why he thinks it is the best place in the world for him.

A window on Saint Elisabeth Convent

Photo album

When visiting is not a possibility, our slide shows can help you feel in the midst of the events. See us throughout the year, visit our workshops, farmsteads, come to our worship services online. Be a part of our life.

Nun Alexandra: “The way of monasticism is my way”

Monastics Essays and interviews

Nun Alexandra is from Montenegro, and she has been with us from 2014. Today, we ask her to share her thoughts about monasticism and tell us how her life experiences influenced her choice of monastic life.

Irina, a visiting nurse: "I never considered сhanging my job."

Caregiving

Sister Irina Tsegelnikova from the visiting nurse service of Saint Elisabeth Convent tells us how Saint Elisabeth's example had inspired her and the other sisters.

A Christian's long and arduous journey to salvation

Essays and interviews Сlergy

In the context of the debate on Christianity and modernity, the spiritual father of Saint Elisabeth Convent Archpriest Andrey Lemeshonok shares his views on the challenges of becoming and remaining a Christian in today's world.

Nun Juliania: let the singing resonate in the prayer

Choirs

At Saint Elisabeth Convent, Nun Juliania is the Senior Precentor and conductor of its Festive Choir. We asked her about the meaning of her creative work and the impact of her spiritual life on her growth as a musician.