The Consecration of Our Chapel

On September 23, the feast of the Conception of St. John the Baptist, Bishop Robert, several beloved priests, some of our families (including the brothers of dokimos Rose, who served), and a few friends joined us for the consecration of our monastery chapel and its dedication to St. John the Baptist.  The Rite of consecration was rich.  The bishop first processed around the exterior of the chapel, blessing it with holy water.  Then, as some of the priests assisted him and some of the priests chanted psalms particular to the consecration of a church, Bishop Robert washed the holy table (altar) with soap and warm water; poured upon it wine, rosewater and spikenard; anointed and finally clothed the holy table with newly-blessed linens.  Then he blessed the iconostasis.  After the consecration, we moved into the celebration of a hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  As we watched the holy table be washed, anointed, and prepared for His descent in the Eucharist, we were moved to realize more deeply the awesome reality of the Lord Who has claimed, washed, anointed and clothed each one of us, coming to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit.

(Thank you Dom & Cassidy Mann of DM Productions for the video!) 

Why we chose St. John the Baptist as the patron of our chapel:

• He is a "desert-dweller," as are monastics
• 
  He is the greatest of the prophets, and monastics are called to live a prophetic life, pointing out the primacy of God and His love, and reminding ourselves and others of the true life
  beyond this earthly one
• He calls himself "the friend of the Bridegroom" (Jn 3:29), and our monastery is named "Christ the Bridegroom"
• He says, "He must increase, I must decrease" (Jn 3:30), which is what our life of repentance, poverty, chastity and obedience is all about
• He points to Jesus ("Behold the Lamb of God;" Jn 1:29), which is what our monastic life is meant to do
• The icon in the "patronal spot" on our iconostasis is St. John the Baptist
• He is the patron of our eparchy, and we are living in the heart (not geographically but spiritually) of our eparchy, helping to pump the blood of the Body of Christ by our constant prayer

Why we chose the feast of his conception as the feast day of our chapel:

This feast reminds us about the fruit that God brings forth from our human “barrenness,” just as God brought about the conception of St. John the Baptist in the womb of the barren Elizabeth. Each human being is “barren” in the sense that he or she can do nothing apart from God (Jn 15:5). We nuns become very aware of this reality as we face ourselves in the mirrors of community life, prayer and asceticism. We also feel our “barrenness” as celibate women: with the ache of not bearing our own physical children; and as monastics: without an active, visibly productive ministry. We are encouraged by the reminder that giving our lives to God is fruitful, even if we do not see the fruit. This feast directs our attention to God and His power and love, rather than ourselves, and it strengthens our faith.