Western Rite Monastery in Providence, RI

[furay]

Saw this posted on paradosis and thought I'd share it with ya'll. I live about half an hour away from Providence... would like to visit sometime and get a blessing and attend Liturgy.

Western Rite Monastery in Rhode Island
Former Benedictine Monastic Community
Continues Western Rite Mission in ROCOR

Christminster is a western-rite monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside Russia (ROCOR), established in Rhode Island in 1993 with the
blessing of Bishop Hilarion, then Bishop of Manhattan, who authorized Dom
James M. Deschene (formerly the Prior of the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount
Royal) to continue the western-rite mission of Mount Royal under the title
of Christ the Saviour Monastery - or Christminster.

Founded as a Benedictine monastic community in 1910, Mount Royal's mission
and work continued as an independent body until 1962. In that year the
community was received into the patriarchal Russian Orthodox Church by its
American exarch, Bishop Dositheus Ivanchenko of New York. For several years,
the monks of Mount Royal staffed a western-rite chapel in the Russian
Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Manhattan, later moving to Woodstock, New York.
Bishop Dositheus' successor, Archbishop John Wendland, blessed and confirmed
the western-rite observance and mission of Mount Royal and the leadership of
its Abbot, Dom Augustine Whitfield.

In 1975, under Abbot Augustine, the monastery was received into the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside Russia by Archbishop Nikon Rklitzsky, who again
authorized and blessed its mission and observances. In 1993, upon the
retirement of Abbot Augustine, Christminster was founded with the blessing
of Bishop Hilarion of Manhattan to carry on the work of western-rite
Orthodoxy in the ROCOR Synod.

From its beginnings, this work and mission have been guided by the spirit of
Saint Benedict and his Holy Rule- the sixth-century foundation document of
Orthodox monasticism in the west. It was the vision of Mount Royal's
founders - a vision firmly adhered to under Abbot Augustine and lovingly
maintained at Christminster - to preserve the contemplative and eremitical
dimension of the monastic life as much as possible. Thus one goal of its
mission - still awaiting fulfillment - is the acquisition of a suitable,
secluded property ensuring tranquillity and silence, and providing
hermitages for monks and guests, with common room, refectory, library,
office and work space, and a monastic church in which the Liturgy of the
Mass and the Hours are celebrated in full on behalf of and for the whole
Church.

In the meantime, Christminster remains committed to maintaining the fullness
and purity of the Orthodox faith in its western-rite tradition. On one
occasion, Abbot Augustine had confided to then Bishop - now Saint - John
Maximovitch some of the hardships of promoting western-rite Orthodoxy. Saint
John's response was a vehement and memorable one: "Never, never, never let
anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern. The
West was Orthodox for a thousand years, and her venerable liturgy is far
older than any of her heresies."
Encouraged and inspired by these words, Christminster lovingly maintains the
western Orthodox rite, each day celebrating the Mass according to the
ancient rite dating from the time when the west was still firmly Orthodox in
its faith and observance. The Hours of the Divine Office are celebrated as
set forth in the Rule of Saint Benedict. The ancient chants of the western
church are used in all services, sung in traditional, liturgical English,
and occasionally in Latin.

To all Orthodox believers seeking to recover and maintain the ancient
Orthodox tradition of the west - the tradition that nurtured such familiar
saints as Benedict, Bede, Ambrose, Boniface, Bridget, Aidan, Patrick,
Augustine, Monica and Columba , and a thousand more - Christminster offers
its prayers, its services and its welcome.

Schedule of Services
SUNDAYS
9:00am High Mass with Sermon
11:15am Brunch
12:15pm Midday Prayer & Angelus

SATURDAYS
7:30am Low Mass
7:30pm Vespers & Compline
Confessions

WEEKDAYS
6:30am Low Mass
8:00pm Vespers (as announced)

Fr. James, Christminster.

[furay]

Somebody say something. Anybody here ever been to an Orthodox Western Rite service? I believe the Antiochian Orthodox Church in America has like 20 Western Rite Parishes.

[Rusty T]

I've often thought that a Western Rite parish would do well in the South - but I don't know if there are any nearby to visit. I fully support the Western Rite and hope that it continues to grow. I also am envious of anyone who lives nearby a monastery.

rusty

[furay]

I've often thought that a Western Rite parish would do well in the South - but I don't know if there are any nearby to visit. I fully support the Western Rite and hope that it continues to grow. I also am envious of anyone who lives nearby a monastery.

rusty

Hmm... you're right, there doesn't seem to be any near you. One thing that kind of irks me is when one location has an over abundance of Churches to choose from and another has absolutely nothing. The different Dioceses should be working together to "plug the holes", as it were, and help bring the Orthodox Church to people who have no access to it.

As for living near a Monastery, normally it would be hard for me to reach it as I don't have a car. However, the Bus downtown goes right to Providence so I could make the trip myself. I'm excited about that.

[spiritmech]

That sounds really cool. St. Benedict was quite a character and I'm glad the East is aware of him.
sm