Friday, December 27, 2013

A CHRISTMAS VISIT AT ELELE MONASTERY


A CHRISTMAS VISIT AT ELELE MONASTERY
by Tagamayana

I am always fascinated with the life at monastery. Here, the monks spend their lives in solitude, in reflections and prayers, and retire to a hermit life and seek truth in contemplation, and abandon the outside world for religious reasons. That is, living in harmony with nature and to the one in the Highest!
Monastery at Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria
 
A day after Christmas we visited the monastery. When we arrived, the place was calm and serene as if nobody was around.
A sharp contrast to the outside world where humming Christmas carols are often heard, people are seen shopping lazily in malls, and children’s laughter are heard everywhere you go.

Rev. Fr. Pius
“Nobody is around,” I told my colleagues. But a few minutes later, Father Pius opened the entrance door and greeted us Happy Christmas. He was a Saviourite priest in charge of the seminary. Happy and smiling, he thanked us for coming. We knew then that the monastery opened its doors for expats for a visit and for those who don't have anyone to share the holiday with or to people who don't have family or would feel lonely to celebrate Christmas.
Life was so simple. Monks were hospitable. With some foods and the special recipe they offered, we dined together and had a pleasant conversation. We enjoyed the meal.  I had learned that besides from daily reflections and prayers, their times were also devoted to reading books, raising animals, and cultivating plants and fruit trees. We spent several hours touring their gardens and livestock raising projects. It was enjoyable to see several of the fruit trees were bearing fruits and hundreds of chicken jostling each other over the feeds at the poultry. After we saw these things, we come to a conclusion how the lives of the monks are being spent in the monastery.


Expatriates visited the monastery
As we left them, the place returned to a quiet and serene as their world would be. We bade goodbye as the sun sunk to the deep of the sunset and the surrounding air began to cool. Then they would be living with nature and to God.
A visit to the monastery and share a Christmas moment with our monks seem spending our life back to the old medieval periods. Monastery is a good place for those who retreat from the heavy traffic of our everyday life and embrace solitude and for those who found the vices of the world intolerable.

Life is too short and sharing some moments to our brothers living in solitude especially Christmas is good and memorable. That is, peace to our soul, minds, and heart! A visit will lighten your heart and re-frame your perception of the holidays. Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!


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