St. Barbaras Monastery, Part 1

So my stay at the monastery sadly came to a close today, but I have plans to go back soon to visit all of my new friends! Here are some pictures from my trip, and some words too.



A pretty creek that runs through the front of the property. Home to lots of frogs that sing you to sleep at night.



Thomas Aquinas college
Cindy came and painted these beautiful Pascha candles.

One evening when I was sitting with Mother Victoria and Sister Brigid talking about the infamous "Punkin" and more specifically what a pious cat he is, we joked about how someday Mother Seraphima will have to write his icon. Mother Victoria ran to the chapel and pulled down this icon of the seven sleepers of Ephesus (really neat account) to prove that animals are holy enough to be included in icons, name and all. The dogs name is "Veriticanis" or something like that, which means "true dog" in latin.
Awesome Right? This is in the kitchen next to the china cabinet. It's a display of their sense of humor.

The adorned icon of our savior for bridegroom matins.

The chapel, which is in the living room. Mother Victoria thought it would be nice if I could learn how to read or do something that contributes to the service. I learned how to "read/chant" during the service. Mother Victoria said she couldn't believe it was my first time and that I should become a reader..."toot-toot" (that was my horn)
This is our Parasceva and Mother Melania baking away. I helped too. We made cold dough cakes (below), thumbprint cookies (below too) and a ton of Mother Melania's "million dollar nut rolls", because they only give them to their "million dollar donors", and because they taste good too. I got one AND the recipe to take home! Mother Victoria was joking with Mother Melania about how much smaller they are this year than the previous years. She said we'll just blame it on the recession.



This is "Punkin". He's posing for me. He followed me around a lot.


My little space...complete with spiders (three, they're dead now though) and a huge table for my studying and a surprisingly comfy wire spring mattress. I felt really grown up to be in my own space again and by myself in the woods.