Great Schema Tribute

http://www.3saints.com/schema.html

Orthodox monasticism is inconceivable without its loftiest step - the Great Schema. The Holy Fathers of the Church regarded it as the culmination of monastic life. Monks find in the Great Schema the complete expression of their vocation - the attainment of the Gospel ideal of holy perfection. A man ascends to this level only gradually - according to his strengththrough life-long effort.

Monastic life elevates a monk to spiritual perfection in the spirit of Christ's love and, by living in this love, bears light and spiritual warmth to the world.

By withdrawing from the world, a monk does not express contempt for it, but, on the contrary, acquires a perfect love for the world, a pure love in Christ which is alien to worldly passions. By turning away from vanity the monk strives to perceive himsell and his impotence, and to fortify himself spiritually through prayer to God.

The Great Schema in the Orthodox Church requires the same traditional vows, plus special spiritual feats. "In the understanding of the Church, the Great Schema is nothing less than the supreme vow of the Cross and death; it is the image of complete isolation from the earth, the image of transformation and transfiguration of life, the image of death and the beginning of another, higher, existence."

As a monastic dignity, the Great Schema has been known since the 4th century. According to an ancient legend, this dignity was inaugurated by St. Pachomius the Great. However, as a form of monastic life, the Great Schema goes back to the origin of Christianity. Those who followed Christ's teachings on supreme spiritual perfection by voluntarily taking the vows of chastity, obedience and poverty were called ascetics to distinguish them from other Christians. They led a harsh and secluded hermit's life like St. John the Baptist, or like our Lord Jesus Christ Himself during his forty days in the desert.

By the 4th century, Christian asceticism had taken two forms-the anchoritic or hermitic, and the communal or cenobitic.

From ancient times the Holy Church has sanctified both forms of monasticism as equally valid in terms of their purpose-spiritual perfection. The difference between them lies not in their essence but in the nature of their activities; it is determined by the intentions and abilities of the monk, and, to a certain extent, by external circumstances.

Schema-nuns of the Korets Convent of the Holy ThrinityThus, the name of St. Antony the Great is linked with the isolated hermitic life, the so-called contemplative monasticism. On the other hand, the name of St. Pachomius, an ascetic of the same era (4th century), is associated with the appearance of communal monastic life-so-called cenobitism. It is evident from their lives how miraculously and providentially the two forms of monasticism were organized. The main vow, one that is common to both forms of monasticism, is that of obedience either to a starets (if the monk is leading a hermitic life) or to a hegumen (if he is living in a cenobitic monastery).

"A monk must frankly tell his starets how many steps he takes or how many drops of water he drinks in his cell, lest he thereby commit a sin," the spiritual fathers told the newly professed.

The Pule of St. Pachomius, which was revealed to him by an angel, defined monasticism in external terms and demonstrated the essence of monastic life. "Do not admit anyone to the performance of higher feats till three years have passed," the angel said. "Let him enter this domain only when he has accomplished some hard work."

St. Pachomius began his monastic path as a hermit. However, he saw in cenobitism a form of monasticism which affects more than hermitism a monk's spiritual life and promotes the perfect development of his soul's qualities.

According to the Rule of St. Pachomius, the act of acceptance into a monastery had three steps and consisted of (a) "temptation" (trial), (b) clothing, and (c) presentation to the starets for spiritual guidance. Each of the three steps undoubtedly had its own significance. They marked the beginning of the three stages in monasticism which have become deeply embedded in the life of the Eastern Church: first, the novice (or ryasofor); the second, the monk (known as inantiyniy or monk of the Lesser Schema); and the third, the monk of the Great Schema (or simply skhimnik).

http://www.3saints.com/schema.html

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[bizintin]

The holiness of this is almost unbearable in its joy and power, while at the same time deeply humbling in the magnificence and presense of our Lord God almighty.

[OrthodoxyIsTruth]

@bizintin

Thank you brother, happy Pascha, may God Bless you.

[OrthodoxyIsTruth]

@bizintin Sorry, sister *

[Josephthebetrothed]

What is the chant used?

[OrthodoxyIsTruth]

@Josephthebetrothed

Pavle Aksentijevic - Psalomnik



[OrthodoxyIsTruth]

The true tragedy is that there are only a handful of elders left in the world, from what I hear, there is only 6 (or less) left in Russia, and 1 in America. Don't know the numbers of other countries.

[SkythMassaghet]

@sweetguy410

Be careful with your "visions from Heaven".. The orthodox Church is the only one true Church and the only true teaching. No other confessions teach about humility.

And the first sin by satan was arrogance.

Remember that for ever.

Seraphim from Sarow said "Overcome the sin in you and you will have no need to search people to preach the Gospel, they will come to you"

Humility is the best gift from God, but it must be paid by us too.

[SkythMassaghet]

Святый Боже Святый Крепкий Святый Безсмертный помилуй нас

[oneoftheeeahuahshua]

1:11 A most amazing photo . . . .

[alvarobeholder]

how thw name of that song , so wonderfulllll

[ComradeAgopian]

Outstanding vid , brother . The holiness of the monks is almost too much for me to bear . If I could have but a fraction of their faith and devotion , I'd be well pleased .

[sweetguy410]

i would like to say hello to my orthodox brothers n sisters. my name's kenny. i grew up lutheran/catholic(will explain if asked). i think orthodoxy is as beautiful as catholicism. when i visited orthodox parish, they knew i'm catholic, n they often prayed for unity between western n eastern church. i love u all n want to learn more. i have recieved visions from heaven telling me to become an ecumenical minister. God bless. :)

[bizintin]

Shiveringly lovely, such grace.

[0933638359]

@OrthodoxyIsTruth

to the brother saying that elders are so few... I say 2 things:

1- one elder can guide a country of people who seek his advice.

2- there are much more than we know, but they always choose to live in hiding and silence, God shows us only few so we learn from them and gain courage and spiritual zeal.