A Visit from Abroad

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By Brother Stavros

On Pentecost Monday, New Skete had the honor of a visit from the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, now Lord George Carey, and his wife, Lady Eileen. They were here in the area to be with the Community of St. Mary, who have a convent near Greenwich and are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their founding, and Mother Miriam, their superior, was eager to show the archbishop their monastic neighbors. The party included Fanuel Magangani, Anglican Bishop of Northern Malawi, from central Africa, and two other nuns from St. Mary’s.

They stopped first at Our Lady of the Sign Monastery, where Sister Cecelia, prioress, showed them around the sisters’ monastery. They were very taken with the cheesecake bakery!

On arriving at Holy Wisdom church at New Skete, the monks and nuns sang some Pentecost hymns as the two bishops were led by Brother Christopher, prior and priest-monk, into the altar, where they venerated the Holy Table.

Brother Christopher gave a brief welcome, and Lord Carey responded, noting with pleasure the depiction of his predecessor, Archbishop Michael Ramsey, who with Popes John XXIII and Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople worked boldly for the reconciliation of the historic Christian Churches. New Skete intoned the customary “Many Years,” then Brother Stavros gave the visitors a detailed tour of the temple. The party, escorted by the monastics, continued the tour through the monastery library and residence.

The archbishop’s party and monastics, Orthodox and Anglican, assembled informally in the trpapeza (dining room) for some refreshment and fellowship.

Lord Carey spoke of his frequent contacts with various Orthodox Churches during his tenure, and he remembered fondly a pilgrimage of 1,000 Anglican youth he led to Taizé.

Some of the German Shepherds mingled with the guests to add their furry welcome.

The visit, coinciding with Pentecost on the Orthodox calendar, made the scripture and hymnology of the feast more poignant, for they bid us to be reconciled through the power of the Holy Spirit, and reconciliation begins with hospitality and mutual love and understanding.





When God most high confused our human tongues, this divided all the nations. But, in sending forth to Christ’s friends parted tongues of flame, he called together all humankind, that with one accord, we might worship his all-holy Spirit. (Kondakion of the feast)



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