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!
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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.
“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.
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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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