|
The Typical day at Holy Trinity Monastery begins at 4:30 am at the chanting of the bell-ringer through the dimly lit halls: “It is the time for song and the hour of prayer, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us.” The monks then gather in the main church for Midnight Office and Morning Prayers at 5:00 am. After Midnight office finishes and the monks have venerated the icons and received a blessing from our Abbot, those who have obediences go to begin the day’s work, while the rest remain and are joined by the seminarians for the daily Liturgy. After the liturgy ends at 7:30, breakfast is made available for the community.
The seminarians begin their classes at 8:00 which are designed to instruct them in the ritual and theological aspects of the Orthodox faith. Classes last until noon. After the Liturgy the monks go about their duties according to the needs of the day, coming together for lunch with the seminarians in the monastery’s refectory at 12:00pm. The seminarians then join the monks in the work of the monastery until the evening.
At 4:00pm Vespers with Matins are conducted by the assigned priest-monk for that day, which last until 6:30pm. Supper is served at 7:00, which is immediately followed by Compline with Evening Prayers, ending a little after 8:00pm. The monks then spend the rest of the evening in prayer or reading while the seminarians prepare for the next day's lessons.
|