The Mortgage
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Yes, even monasteries can be in debt.
After posting my occasional plea for funds I had a number of my readers comment that they were disturbed to hear that we have a mortgage. Many years ago we were forced to go into debt in order to purchase the neighboring eleven acres through which we had an easement.
The property had been put on the market by the owner because he did not want to live next to a monastery. He and his wife (they were a young couple in the late twenties) said they didn't want to have to listen to bells, nor did they want a cross and sign at the entrance of the property, announcing the monastery. When a woman made an offer to purchase the property, saying she was going to cut down most of the forest and raise Rottweilers, we knew the solitude and silence would be gone forever.
The State of Washington told her she could not cut down the trees, so she backed out of the deal. The owner blamed us, physically attacking me at the entrance to the property as I tried to protect the holy cross from being broken after he'd already destroyed the gate and sign. He then subdivided the eleven acres, making it probable we'd have two houses to contend with, one at the entrance and another overlooking our complex.
Without going into the long details, we had one miracle after another and were able to borrow the money needed to purchase the eleven acres. The initial five acres was owned free and clear, due to the generosity of the man who gave us part of his property, eventually selling the rest to the young man. We now have sixteen acres, surrounded on two sides by a publicly own forty acre water shed. Grateful as we were for having been able to purchase the property, we were now in debt.
The State of Washington told her she could not cut down the trees, so she backed out of the deal. The owner blamed us, physically attacking me at the entrance to the property as I tried to protect the holy cross from being broken after he'd already destroyed the gate and sign. He then subdivided the eleven acres, making it probable we'd have two houses to contend with, one at the entrance and another overlooking our complex.
Without going into the long details, we had one miracle after another and were able to borrow the money needed to purchase the eleven acres. The initial five acres was owned free and clear, due to the generosity of the man who gave us part of his property, eventually selling the rest to the young man. We now have sixteen acres, surrounded on two sides by a publicly own forty acre water shed. Grateful as we were for having been able to purchase the property, we were now in debt.
We still have a mortgage payment of $2,000.00 each month, along with the heating bills, food costs, vehicle and building maintenance, insurance, and the expense of feeding increased numbers of pilgrims. It has become a struggle to keep our heads above water. We still owe a little over $250,000.00 for the mortgage.
Having this hanging over our heads has been a worry. The thought that this monastery could one day be owned by the bank is a terrible thought, so I am asking my readers to please join us in praying for another miracle, that we can put this mortgage to rest. Although we hope to eventually construct guest facilities for pilgrims, retiring the mortgage is our top priority.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Tuesday November 22, 2011 / November 9, 2011
24th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Martyrs Onesiphorus and Porphyrius of Ephesus (284).
Venerable Matrona, abbess, of Constantinople (492).
Venerable Theoctiste of the isle of Lesbos (881).
New Hieromartyrs Parthenius bishop of Ananiev, Constantine, Demetrius, Nestor, Theodore, Constantine, Victor, Elias priests, Joseph deacon and Hieromartyr Alexis (1937).
Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Caves (1148).
Martyr Alexander of Thessalonica (305).
Martyr Anthony of Apamea (5th c.).
Venerable John the Short of Egypt (422).
Venerables Eustolia (610) and Sosipatra (635) of Constantinople.
St. Nectarius (Kephalas), metropolitan of Pentapolis (1920) (Greek).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Quick Hearer of Mt. Athos" (10th c.).
Venerable Simeon Metaphrastes of Constantinople (960).
Venerables Euthymius (990) and Neophytus, the Serbians of Mt. Athos (Greek).
Martyrs Narses and Artemonos (Greek).
St. Helladius, monk (Greek).
Martyrs Claudius, Castor, Sempronian, and Nicostrat (Romania).
Venerable Matrona, abbess, of Constantinople (492).
Venerable Theoctiste of the isle of Lesbos (881).
New Hieromartyrs Parthenius bishop of Ananiev, Constantine, Demetrius, Nestor, Theodore, Constantine, Victor, Elias priests, Joseph deacon and Hieromartyr Alexis (1937).
Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Caves (1148).
Martyr Alexander of Thessalonica (305).
Martyr Anthony of Apamea (5th c.).
Venerable John the Short of Egypt (422).
Venerables Eustolia (610) and Sosipatra (635) of Constantinople.
St. Nectarius (Kephalas), metropolitan of Pentapolis (1920) (Greek).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Quick Hearer of Mt. Athos" (10th c.).
Venerable Simeon Metaphrastes of Constantinople (960).
Venerables Euthymius (990) and Neophytus, the Serbians of Mt. Athos (Greek).
Martyrs Narses and Artemonos (Greek).
St. Helladius, monk (Greek).
Martyrs Claudius, Castor, Sempronian, and Nicostrat (Romania).
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
Prayer for the Church
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.Luke 12:42-48
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
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