Fr. Paisius Altschul Conversion Story - Part 3

For the previous two parts of this lengthy quote from the introduction of The Northern Thebaid, either scroll down or go directly to Part 1 or Part 2 by clicking on the links.

The ladies were led to a small hut down the mountain, just off of the monastic premises, referred to as "The Hilton."



The "Hilton"

My wife suffers from a chronic pulmonary disease. So when we climbed back up the hill after dropping off their belongings, she said, "I can't go back down there. I'll sleep in the car tonight." After a meal together, we were led into the monastic church for evening prayers. We prayed Compline and then what is called the "Optina Five-hundred": the quiet repetition of the Jesus Prayer with prostrations. We experienced a timelessness in prayer with an inner light and strength that lifted us after the journey. When we went outside the stars appeared close enough to pluck by hand. My wife turned and with clear breathing said to me, "I'm going back down the mountain!"

That trip occurred in July of 1992. The following April, thirteen of us were baptized and formed what has come to be known as St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in Kansas City, Missouri.

The life portrayed in the Northern Russian Thebaid continues where the Southern African Thebaid left off. It is a stream of prayer and grace that has not abandoned the earth. In these times, the monastic inspiration to be drawn from this stream is just breaking out in North America. May all God-seekers drink from and pray with these holy ones who continue to pray for the salvation of our souls and our land.