10th Anniversary Countdown: 2010

Answers from yesterday:
2011 Photo #1: Mother Cecilia (then Julie) helps her mom to cut out our first set of habits. Before then, we had permission from the bishop to wear a black skirt and black headcovering, but on Great & Holy Wednesday of 2011, Mother Theodora (then Sr. Celeste) was tonsured as a rasophore nun and Mother Cecilia was also given permission to wear the basic habit along with her and to be called Sister. Mother Gabriella (then Jessie) joined our community in May.
2011 Photo #2: Mother Gabriella and Mother Theodora play with the kid goats after our daily barn chores at Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery in Otego, NY. We lived at this monastery for three months to learn from another Eastern monastery. In addition to learning about Eastern monasticism, we also learned how to milk and take care of goats!)

Countdown: 2 days left! Remembering the year 2010.

2010 Photo #1

2010 Photo #2

"Abba Lot came to Abba Joseph and said: Father, according as I am able, I keep my little rule, and my little fast, my prayer, meditation and contemplative silence; and, according as I am able, I strive to cleanse my heart of thoughts: now what more should I do? The elder rose up in reply and stretched out his hands to heaven, and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire. He said: Why not become fire?"
--A story from the desert fathers (quote submitted by Mother Cecilia)