Hammi
The Norwegian Forest Cat
The Norwegian Forest Cat
Pets as Gifts from God
Every
evening I try to spend an hour or so in the library, sitting in front
of the fire place. Our beloved Norwegian Forest Cat, Hammi, sleeps in
the library/community room every night. Hammi is most happy when the
entire monastic brotherhood is gathered together with him. He's an
important member of our community, loved by all of us, and is the only
cat I know who has his own facebook fan page, started by a woman who'd
met him on a pilgrimage to the monastery (if my memory be correct).
I first met Hammi, a large male cat, as I was walking between our old trailer house (now gone) and my cell, some eleven years ago. We startled one another, but as I reached down with extended hand, he came to me. When I picked him up he began purring immediately, so I opened a can of salmon, and he never left. A month after his arrival we took him to a vet to be checked out. It was the veterinarian who suggested he'd most likely been dumped by someone from Seattle, as happens frequently when people want to dispose of a pet, and make sure the animal can't find it's way back home (impossible from an island).
I often tell people that Hammi domesticated me, since I'd not previously been a cat fancier, being allergic to cat dander. Little did I know at the beginning that Norwegian Forest Cats do not have dander. They have a very soft double fur coat, large paws, sweet facial features and a very loud purr box. They are known to be personable, liking to be around people. He greets everyone who comes to the monastery, escorting them up the steps from the parking lot. Everyone who's ever met Hammi, falls in love. I've lost count of the number of people who've stated they don't like cats, but want to get a Norwegian Forest Cat for themselves, once they've met him.
Intelligent breed that they are, Hammi has learned to let us know just what he wants, be it water, food, cuddling, sleep, whatever. He is a great companion to all of us, even going into the forest when one of us takes a walk on the Valaam Trail. He has a special game which he seems to enjoy with me, particularly. I'll head out on the trail with Hammi running ahead. He'll hide behind a large fern, and even though I know he's waiting ahead, he always manages to scare me. I'll then run ahead and hide behind a tree and jump out when he walks by. We play this game until the end of the trail!
He's slowing down a bit with age, just as am I. We both suffer from arthritis and like to sit by the fire on a cold winter evening, with him cuddling in the lap of the old abbot. I've grown so attached to him that I can't even begin to think of what life in the monastery will be like after he's gone.
Animals teach us so much about life, and about unconditional love. I'll never forget the day Hammi spotted our newly arrived Rhode Island Reds for the first time. I was sitting on the veranda of the trapeza with some guests. Hammi sat up when he spotted the hens, and started walking toward the Saint John Chapel. I followed him, as did our guests. When we were standing by the hens, Hammi crouched down, ready for the kill. All that was needed was for me to say, "No, Hammi, they are our friends". He turned away and walked back to the veranda, leaving me and the guests alone with the chickens. He's never bothered them since.
Although I'd grown up with dogs and cats, they'd not been in my life throughout my adulthood, until Hammi came around. I'm so very glad he did.
I first met Hammi, a large male cat, as I was walking between our old trailer house (now gone) and my cell, some eleven years ago. We startled one another, but as I reached down with extended hand, he came to me. When I picked him up he began purring immediately, so I opened a can of salmon, and he never left. A month after his arrival we took him to a vet to be checked out. It was the veterinarian who suggested he'd most likely been dumped by someone from Seattle, as happens frequently when people want to dispose of a pet, and make sure the animal can't find it's way back home (impossible from an island).
I often tell people that Hammi domesticated me, since I'd not previously been a cat fancier, being allergic to cat dander. Little did I know at the beginning that Norwegian Forest Cats do not have dander. They have a very soft double fur coat, large paws, sweet facial features and a very loud purr box. They are known to be personable, liking to be around people. He greets everyone who comes to the monastery, escorting them up the steps from the parking lot. Everyone who's ever met Hammi, falls in love. I've lost count of the number of people who've stated they don't like cats, but want to get a Norwegian Forest Cat for themselves, once they've met him.
Intelligent breed that they are, Hammi has learned to let us know just what he wants, be it water, food, cuddling, sleep, whatever. He is a great companion to all of us, even going into the forest when one of us takes a walk on the Valaam Trail. He has a special game which he seems to enjoy with me, particularly. I'll head out on the trail with Hammi running ahead. He'll hide behind a large fern, and even though I know he's waiting ahead, he always manages to scare me. I'll then run ahead and hide behind a tree and jump out when he walks by. We play this game until the end of the trail!
He's slowing down a bit with age, just as am I. We both suffer from arthritis and like to sit by the fire on a cold winter evening, with him cuddling in the lap of the old abbot. I've grown so attached to him that I can't even begin to think of what life in the monastery will be like after he's gone.
Animals teach us so much about life, and about unconditional love. I'll never forget the day Hammi spotted our newly arrived Rhode Island Reds for the first time. I was sitting on the veranda of the trapeza with some guests. Hammi sat up when he spotted the hens, and started walking toward the Saint John Chapel. I followed him, as did our guests. When we were standing by the hens, Hammi crouched down, ready for the kill. All that was needed was for me to say, "No, Hammi, they are our friends". He turned away and walked back to the veranda, leaving me and the guests alone with the chickens. He's never bothered them since.
Although I'd grown up with dogs and cats, they'd not been in my life throughout my adulthood, until Hammi came around. I'm so very glad he did.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Abbot Tryphon
Wednesday May 8, 2013 / April 25, 2013
Bright Wednesday.
Bright Week. Fast-free
Bright Week. Fast-free
Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Holy Mount Sinai (movable holiday on the Wednesday of the Bright Week).
"Kasperov" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (movable holiday on the Wednesday of the Bright Week).
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (63).
Martyr Sergius (1938).
Venerable Basil Polianomerulsk (1767) (Romania).
Venerable Sylvester, abbot of Obnora (1379).
"Constantinople" Icon (1071) of the Mother of God.
St. Macedonius, patriarch of Constantinople (516).
St. Aninanus, second bishop of Alexandria (86).
Hieromartyr Stephen, bishop of Antioch (479).
Martyr Nice (Greek).
Eight anchorites who were martyred. (Greek).
"Kasperov" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (movable holiday on the Wednesday of the Bright Week).
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (63).
Martyr Sergius (1938).
Venerable Basil Polianomerulsk (1767) (Romania).
Venerable Sylvester, abbot of Obnora (1379).
"Constantinople" Icon (1071) of the Mother of God.
St. Macedonius, patriarch of Constantinople (516).
St. Aninanus, second bishop of Alexandria (86).
Hieromartyr Stephen, bishop of Antioch (479).
Martyr Nice (Greek).
Eight anchorites who were martyred. (Greek).
You can read the life of the saint in green, by click on the name.
THANK YOU, to all of you who have been able to contribute towards the support of the monastery. These difficult times of economic hardship have impacted the monastery, and those of you who have been able to donate, have been our lifeline. May God bless you for your generosity, and kindness.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Abbot Tryphon
Donations can be made directly to the monastery through PayPal, or you may send donations to:
All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
PO Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420 USA
The Scripture Readings
Acts 2:22-36
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore,
being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up
the Christ to sit on his throne,[c] 31 he,
foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that
His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore
being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the
Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now
see and hear.26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”“Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
John 1:35-51
The First Disciples
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Philip and Nathanael
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
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What an absolutely delightful tale. Animals do teach us about unconditional love.
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