A Place to Sleep
Donation protected
The need that is driving this campaign for funds is for the establishment of a place in which an elderly nun, Mother Helena, can sleep. Mother Helena has been an Eastern Orthodox nun for over 30 years. She came to our Abbey of the Holy Name in New Jersey to practice a life of ascetical discipline and prayer. Since the abbey is a community of elderly monks, Mother had been given the use of an old, small camping trailer next to the Abbey to use as her cell. By day, she participates in the communal life of the monastery - prayer in the abbey church, work and meals in silence. But by night, she has left the abbey and retired to her cell for solitude.
During the past year, the small 18 ft. trailer she has used for her place of rest has deteriorated. My assistant, Brother Anthony, and I have fixed the leaking roof with tarps and plastic bags, but the the racoons and rodents have gnawed their way in and have made it no longer habitable. She has been forced to sleep on the sofa in the common room of the abbey, a situation that is unacceptable by virtue of the respect that should be given to her and the monks who pass by from their cells to the abbey church.
Since I started this campaign, the Abbot has learned that the borough of West Milford, NJ has enacted a law prohibiting people from bringing trailers onto their property and using them as a place of residence. Knowing that we are now unable to purchase a new or used trailer for Mother to live in, he has agreed to use the funds that we raise to block off a tiny and separate cell for Mother Helena in a front room that had been used previously as a library. The library will be reorganized, and a separate cell will be made for Mother that will allow her to come and go without hindrance.
We are a small archdiocese of the Traditional Eastern Orthodox Christian Church with only a handful of parishes in the States that are both small and poor. Our Metropolitan lives in simplicity and poverty, a life chosen to emulate the call of the Lord Jesus to sell all, give to the poor and follow Him.
I am a married priest living in Orrtanna, Pa, pastoring a small congregation of the archdiocese in Emmitsburg, MD. I have put put out a call to the handful of people who practice our Traditional Orthodox Christian faith and will add all donations to this campaign. My hope now is that a very simple cell can be made for Mother quickly so that she does not need to sleep on the couch in the main room of the abbey.
What is Mother Helena like? Sincere and good natured. faithful and smart. She prays for us every day, takes care of her three cats and does what she can to clean and cook for the elderly monks of the community. I know she will pray for you who are able to help!
Please feel free to contact me via GoFundMe with any questions you might have about this campaign for Mother.
In Christ our true God,
Fr. Elias
During the past year, the small 18 ft. trailer she has used for her place of rest has deteriorated. My assistant, Brother Anthony, and I have fixed the leaking roof with tarps and plastic bags, but the the racoons and rodents have gnawed their way in and have made it no longer habitable. She has been forced to sleep on the sofa in the common room of the abbey, a situation that is unacceptable by virtue of the respect that should be given to her and the monks who pass by from their cells to the abbey church.
Since I started this campaign, the Abbot has learned that the borough of West Milford, NJ has enacted a law prohibiting people from bringing trailers onto their property and using them as a place of residence. Knowing that we are now unable to purchase a new or used trailer for Mother to live in, he has agreed to use the funds that we raise to block off a tiny and separate cell for Mother Helena in a front room that had been used previously as a library. The library will be reorganized, and a separate cell will be made for Mother that will allow her to come and go without hindrance.
We are a small archdiocese of the Traditional Eastern Orthodox Christian Church with only a handful of parishes in the States that are both small and poor. Our Metropolitan lives in simplicity and poverty, a life chosen to emulate the call of the Lord Jesus to sell all, give to the poor and follow Him.
I am a married priest living in Orrtanna, Pa, pastoring a small congregation of the archdiocese in Emmitsburg, MD. I have put put out a call to the handful of people who practice our Traditional Orthodox Christian faith and will add all donations to this campaign. My hope now is that a very simple cell can be made for Mother quickly so that she does not need to sleep on the couch in the main room of the abbey.
What is Mother Helena like? Sincere and good natured. faithful and smart. She prays for us every day, takes care of her three cats and does what she can to clean and cook for the elderly monks of the community. I know she will pray for you who are able to help!
Please feel free to contact me via GoFundMe with any questions you might have about this campaign for Mother.
In Christ our true God,
Fr. Elias
Organizer
Elias Yelovich
Organizer
Orrtanna, PA
