Historically speaking, Orthodoxy has established not just temples, but entire communities. This has enabled us to learn actually experience “loving our neighbor“, as well as some of the traditional lifestyles of our ancestors. Now that the American mission is decades old, we can see that such a model desperately needs reviving.
Orthodoxy in America has been zealous about planting temples, but primarily in secularized communities. This makes it very difficult to build Orthodox community. The prices of homes and the way modern society is built has been preventing most any spiritual community from doing more than just meeting for prayer. Granted, meeting for prayer is crucial, but so is living the abundant life that this prayer has always offered. Monastics are not the only ones that have lived in community. Most of lay Orthodoxy throughout history has lived in community!
St Elizabeth church in the Prescott National Forest, Chino Valley, Arizona, has property available. We raise cattle, chickens, etc, and we have our own wells. This is perfect for not just spiritual community, but also economical survival for what seems to be very chaotic times. Please contact us if you are interested!
