I was blessed to spend eight days at the Monastery of St John the Baptist in Essex, which was founded by Fr Sophrony (Sakharov). There are no pictures, below, of the iconography within the various temples on the monastery grounds for several reasons: 1) digital images, outside of context and setting, would not do justice; 2) pictures were discouraged; 3) it just didnāt seem right. BUT, here are some images of the monastery grounds (and famous cats).
Click images to enlarge.
Looking out the train window, near Ely, on my way to Essex.
Arrival at the monastery.
The building where I lodged while at the monastery.
Partial view of the mosaics on the side of St Silouan’s Chapel — with a tree in front of the image of St Silouan. Other mosaic images below …
Meet Panther. Panther guards the main cross walk — and moves for no one (except when in need of a good scratching).
A mosaic of St Nicholas on the side of an “office building”.
A view towards the Old Rectory, the original monastery building.
I’d never seen this icon before; found in the stairwell to my room.
A mosaic of Noah’s Ark and animals on the end of the smaller rectory. The grassy area (behind me) allows kids to run and roam following Sunday’s Liturgy …
Looking up the road from the monastery, toward the village of Tiptree.
Spring colours by the garden on the way to the main refectory.
The main refectory.
You’ve met Panther, now meet Tiger. Tiger lives on the nun’s side of the street, toward the refectory.
The view from my room.
This spot, mind you, is right in the middle of the sidewalk. It was just after lunch and all the monks, nuns, and such had to side step and walk around … Panther.
St Silouan.
Our forefather, Adam.
Looking toward the visitor’s parking lot.
You’d hardly notice it, huh? This is the passage way from one side of the monastery “campus” to the other, across the road; a very well trod path.
I gathered with the monks, just beyond the aforementioned gate’s opening, as we looked up the road awaiting the arrival of Antiochian Metropolitan Ignatius of Paris.
The outside of the “Crypt Chapel” — where most of the weekday services were held while I was there. Beneath this building is the crypt wherein Fr Sophrony is entombed.
Fr Sophrony’s tomb (center).
As mentioned, I did not take pictures inside the temples, but this image of the Mystical Supper in the smaller refectory is akin to the one above the altar in St Silouan’s Chapel. See Judas?
His Eminence, Metropolitan Ignatius and me in the foyer of the main refectory.
Orthodixie
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