Orthodoxy on the Road

Holy Trinity Monastery
Jordanville, NY

For many, summer is a time for travel. Before having a baby, my husband and I were fortunate enough to make a number of pilgrimages to Orthodox monasteries in New York and Pennsylvania. We also took a trip to Istanbul, Turkey (the ancient city of Constantinople) in the fall of 2009 primarily visiting sites of historical and religious significance to Orthodox Christians.

Since the birth of our son, I have to admit that it's been hard trying to plan trips like these when our primary objective has been spending time with family when we do get a chance to travel. As my son gets older, my hope is that we can schedule trips to monasteries as well.

Hami the Cat, Greeter & Trail Guide
All Merciful Saviour Monastery
Vashon Island, WA

Last year, when visiting my sister-in-law in Seattle, we went out to Vashon Island (an hour's drive, plus ferry ride) to check out the All Merciful Saviour Monastery. Although it would have been nice to have timed our visit so that we could attend services, we instead went midday during the week to accommodate our sister-in-law and her infant son's schedule. Nonetheless, our visit there was still worth the while and we were rewarded with the beautiful scenary, a lovely conversation with one of the priests, a stroll along one of the monastery's forest trails and some great coffee that we bought from their bookstore (the monastery roasts coffee beans). It may not sound like much, but I have also found that it's trips like these with our non-Orthodox family members that may give them a little more insight into what it means to be Orthodox.

Church Bells & Talanton
Holy Protection Monastery
White Haven, PA

Visiting monasteries while on the road provides a unique opportunity to introduce a child to the life of a monastic which is an intrinsic part of the Orthodox tradition. Activities around the monastery farm or garden, candle, incense or soap making, bread baking, hikes in the surrounding countryside and church services can make for a surprisingly engaging and kid-friendly place... with some advance planning and parental supervision of course! Just keep in mind that all monasteries will want you to call in advance. According to what I've found on the web, there are more than 90 Orthodox monasteries in 29 states. I'm lucky in that my parents and parents-in-law live in a part of Northern California where there are two monasteries located less than a two-hour drive away, the St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood in Platina and the Monastery of St. John of San Francisco in Manton. My husband has visited both with his Dad. Again, these trips give our non-Orthodox family some understanding about our faith. 

Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery
Otego, NY

I'm not advocating that every opportunity one has to travel should be made into a religious retreat, but I believe that it can be an enriching experience for the young, Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. If nothing else, it can be a welcome reprieve amidst the hustle and bustle that comes with travelling as a family.

For parents looking for a way to explain to younger children what the life of a monastic is all about, here is a simply-written article that's easily relatable:  http://www.theologic.com/oflweb/inhome/monk02.htm.

In order to help children prepare for a visit to a monastery, there are a number of children's books that would be great to read together beforehand. You can find a list of some of them here under "Monastic Life" found on my Children's Literature page.

Happy and safe travels this summer!