fifty Years of Monastic Witness
A celebration of the 50th anniversary of New Skete Monasteries
fifty Years rooted in
Faith Glory be to Jesus Christ! It is with great joy that we invite you to join with us in our celebration of 50 years of New Skete Monasteries, and to share in our passion for Christ’s love in our world—a world where we serve God every day by the work of our hands, with the Lord as our guiding light. Today in our monastic witness we seek to proclaim the Good News especially by the harmony and balance of our work and prayer. Through the church services and liturgical arts, and as bakers, dog breeders and trainers, retreat and seminar leaders, iconographers and prayer companions, we hope to share with others the inspiration and presence of Jesus in our lives. The world needs the light of peace, justice, mercy, and compassion that we seek to live in our work, prayer, and community. As we celebrate five decades as a monastic community, we thank you for joining us on our journey. May the Lord give you peace!
monks Then, Now, tomorrow
The Monks of New Skete with their first German Shepherd dog, Kyr.
In the half-century of our life together as the Monks of New Skete, the two poles of our life have remained fixed: daily prayer and worship, along with labor to earn our daily bread. In the early years, the latter included the physical work of erecting the buildings where we would live, and care for the farm animals that provided us with food. Moving to Cambridge, New York, on the eastern edge of the low but beautiful Taconic Mountains, we settled in a very agrarian community and learned farming skills, including smoking meats and cheese, from our rural neighbors. As the economy shifted so did our skills: we were able to build on our love for our first German Shepherd into internationally known breeding and dog training programs. We’ve published many books related to our lives with our dogs. Other books have included spiritual reflections on our monastic life. Our worship remains anchored in a daily cycle of Matins and Vespers, with Divine Liturgy on Sundays and feast days. Our prayer life is the measure of our relationships with God and with each other. We have always believed that ecumenical outreach is an aspect of putting the Gospel into practice. Beginning locally, we often host visiting social, school, and church groups; participate in the Cambridge association of clergy; and take our turn providing a free meal with a brief devotion during Advent and Lent. We are also supportive of inter-Orthodox unity on many levels, including leading retreats here as well as in various parishes across the country. But our history points in a direction. An important aspect of celebrating our first fifty-year anniversary is how it naturally looks forward to the future. Monasticism has never been a static reality, and the dynamic way we have experienced our history unfold over the past fifty years makes us hopeful that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire us in realizing our dream of a vibrant and authentic monastic life. So many exciting challenges await our efforts, not the least of which is passing on the gift we have received to a new and creative generation who share our ideals. This has always been the monastic legacy, and with God’s help, we have deep faith in its vibrant future.
Early in 1968, six of the monks pouring the cement patio for the monastery entrance and bell tower.
Brothers Ambrose, Peter, and Stavros choir practice at Holy Wisdom Church.
1969, seven Poor Clare nuns move to Cambridge, New York, forming the Nuns of New Skete.
nuns Then, Now, tomorrow In 1969, five Poor Clare nuns from Evansville, Indiana, set out to found a new monastery whose life would embody the deep expression of their dedication to God. Encouraged by the Second Vatican Council to study the origins and animating vision of their founder, they had begun to reflect on their monastic way of life in the light of modern-day life and its demands. They decided to establish their monastery four miles down the road from the monks. Two more Poor Clare nuns joined the five, and a small farmhouse was purchased with the help of the monks. Donations from family and friends helped with furnishings and other necessities. The nuns immediately set about earning their keep by cleaning houses in town and working at the local hospital. In 1970, across the road from the house where the nuns had been living, the monks were hired to lay the foundations for a new monastery, build the superstructure, and install the heating, plumbing, and electrical work. By spring of 1971, the nuns were able to complete the exterior and interior and the finishing work well enough to move in.
Sister Patricia sewing a vestment.
As the Nuns of New Skete, our primary focus is to work continually to transform ourselves in the light of the Gospel. We have chosen to live this life together, striving for a balance in common and private prayer, and work to support ourselves and the upkeep of our monastery and grounds. As a small community, we emphasize consensus in governance under the leadership of our elected prioress. While maintaining our individuality as a monastic community, a truly unique character of our monastic life is the interrelatedness of our community with that of the monks. In our desire to live the monastic life and to worship authentically and intensely, our aim is to retain those pieces of the earliest tradition which are essential to supporting our spiritual growth and to let go of other pieces which are tied to cultures of the past. Taking part in the mysteries of Christ’s life, death and resurrection draws us to repentance and the gradual change of our inner selves. The daily liturgical services, spending time in prayer and quiet, together with our physical labor and study are intended to help us follow the gospel rule of love and compassion. By our mutual love and understanding as children of the same God, we hope to demonstrate the possibilities open to everyone: living in peace and harmony for the benefit and welfare of all. We hope that all who come our way will find in us a source of generous hospitality, inspiration and encouragement to respond to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sister Cecelia painting an icon of the Theotokos.
liturgy Then, Now, tomorrow
The priest-monk Christopher leading the kneeling prayers at Vespers on the feast of Pentecost.
One of the hallmarks of New Skete’s monastic history has been its dedication to the study of the historical and theological development of liturgical worship. By understanding its origin in the early Church and in times when liturgy was more immediate to ordinary people we have been able to undertake a true liturgical renewal. This has brought fresh air to our spiritual lungs, for the Divine Services are the very breath of the monastic community. In the Offices of Vespers and Matins, and in the Divine Liturgy we emphasize the more scriptural elements [Psalms, Prophets, New Testament]. This provides more ritual clarity and guidance in the prayer of the Liturgical Assembly. Our Typicon or Rule of Life notes that “Fidelity to tradition implies creatively re-interpreting and adapting it in accord with the movement of the Holy Spirit in our own time.” We look to translate the power of the witness of our monastic forebears in a contemporary way. The perennial nature of Eastern Christian monasticism challenges not only ourselves but the church and our surrounding culture with the values of the Gospel. The same holds true for our liturgical witness. We welcome pilgrims and visitors to pray with us. Over the years many individuals and families from the surrounding area have formed a worshiping community of Orthodox believers who regard Holy Wisdom their parish. We care for their spiritual welfare at the Sunday Divine Liturgy and through the Sacramental ministry of the church. In a quickly changing age whose culture has lost its moorings to a common Christian ethos, tomorrow’s liturgy faces a significant challenge. While Liturgy connects us to a living tradition reaching back to Christ, it is also a pillar of fire leading us through the seemingly trackless wilderness of the future. We need not fear change or making necessary adaptations that make its meaning more vital to today’s world. We can together listen to the Holy Spirit deep within us, responding creatively in a manner that honors the wisdom of our apostolic heritage and allows its full flowering in the body of Christ today and tomorrow. The dismissal prayer for the Divine Liturgy on Transfiguration (August 6), the patronal feast of our combined communities, proclaims: Transform us over and over again through the powerful Word of your love and the Gifts of your Spirit, which always guide us to better things.
The priest-monk Marc administering Holy Communion to one of the parish members at the Divine Liturgy.
In favorable weather, the Eucharistic Liturgy begins outdoors, for the singing of antiphon psalms and the entrance of clergy and people into the church.
Learning to sing the liturgical chants is an important part of following the monastic path at New Skete.
Vocations Then, Now, tomorrow Monasteries have always been places where men and women could let their deepest desires be nourished by a shared vision of mutual love and support. Monastic life has been an avenue of transformation, where all elements of life combine to give birth to a new self, made in the image of Christ. Such transformation is a life-long process characterized by faith, discipline and perseverance, in union with one’s brothers and sisters. It calls out what is best in human nature, and leads us to deep peace and inner joy, to “life more abundant” —John 10:10. Many women and men throughout history have experienced such a powerful attraction. When any following the inner thread of this attraction, its source seems to come from beyond ourselves. In engaging with it, an inner desire may increase, enabling a connection to the mystery in a new way. Such an experience might lead one to wonder how God might be drawing one to a more explicit following of their heart’s desire. Within the tradition of Eastern Orthodox Christianity one of the honored ways people have sought to respond to it has been through the gift of the monastic life.
New members have a chance to explore the great beauty of New Skete’s surroundings.
New Skete embodies a unique monastic vision that integrates separate communities of monks, nuns and companions (beyond the physical boundaries of the monastery). Since our community is Eastern Orthodox, we encourage seekers who are attracted to the spiritual depths of the Christian East, and who are interested in a fresh expression of monastic living that remains rooted in tradition. The Typicon or common rule of life that governs the monastic life has inspired us for half a century so far. It continues to beckon new members with the challenge summarized in its opening chapter: “We desire to grow in an authentic monastic way of life. Within our community our vision is to foster the total integration of each person through the practice of the spiritual life. The chief characteristic of this is metanoia, a change of mind and heart that is progressively ever more responsive to the words of Christ. Realizing God’s presence through our contemplative life puts us in touch with true peace and compassion.” The future of monastic life in the church and in our rapidly changing society calls us to welcome candidates with a flexibility that respects the core of the tradition but which is open to the gifts and challenges new members bring with them. Together we hope to translate the witness of our monastic forebears in a contemporary way.
Brother Christopher giving a novice German Shepherd some pointers on the road.
Monasteries Then, Now, Tomorrow
Holy Wisdom church, with the lectern for the Scriptures, in the center of the nave.
In 1967 the monks cleared the steep and rocky land on Two Top Mountain to begin building their monastery. Additions to the main building, as well as the small and large churches, were built through the years. Today there are fourteen rooms for the monks as well as a library, bathrooms, offices, kitchen area, meeting spaces and classrooms, and the community dining and living areas. A gift shop, two guest rooms, and two parlors surround the front entrance. The monastery kitchen, while in need of renovation, still adequately provides meals for the monks and their guests and large gatherings. In 1988 the monks built a large kennel building for the German Shepherd puppy program. The original guest house, which also contained art rooms, workshops, and the training kennel, has been demolished, and a new much larger Training Facility constructed nearby. In 1983 the community of the Companions of New Skete built Emmaus House on the monks’ land, and it now serves as the monks’ main guest house. The nuns’ monastery is approximately four miles to the west of the monks, on Ashgrove Road. Our Lady of the Sign Monastery includes the kitchen, bedrooms, dining area, community rooms, a small chapel for daily matins and the hours, the art studio, guest areas, library, workshops, and bakery, along with a tiny gift shop for the sale of the nuns’ famous cheesecakes and other goodies. There are two New Skete churches at the monks’ monastery.
Our Lady of the Sign Monastery, home to the Nuns of New Skete.
The first is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. (Photo to the left.) This small temple was designed and built with the monks’ labor in 1970. It has a roughhewn exterior topped by eight small but distinctive gold cupolas or “onion” domes. The floor is made of green slate from nearby quarries, and the walls and pillars are covered with cedar and ash wood. In 1979 New Skete entered the Orthodox Church in America. As New Skete grew, it became necessary to build a larger church to accommodate the monastic communities, the local parishioners, and the growing number of retreatants and visitors. The new building, dedicated to Holy Wisdom, was built in 1983 by the monastics and local carpenters. The small temple is the focal point and center of the monastic setting. It is an icon of the contemplative atmosphere for the monks and nuns of New Skete as well as for guests and visitors of all beliefs, who continue to cherish its sacred presence.
The waterfall feature in the Meditation Gardens, in front of the Holy Wisdom Temple.
Sisters Sarah and Ruth working in the bakery. Circa 1980s.
Cheesecake Then, Now, Tomorrow Striving for a balance in prayer and manual work, the nuns looked for new ways to create a living. When Sister Magdalene, whose avocation was baking, joined the nuns, their work expanded to include baking cheesecakes. By 1975 the original cheesecake recipe had been fine-tuned. New Skete Kitchens was born, and the nuns moved into a newly built bakery in 1983. Sister Patricia oversees the operations of the well-organized bakery, from the purchase of ingredients to the shipment of the finished cheesecakes, and ensures their consistently high quality. Cheesecakes are baked one or two days a week, with cutting and packing on the other days. Following the church liturgical cycles, no baking occurs between Christmas and January 6, on other major Feast Days, and during the communities’ retreat times. The bakery also produces fruitcakes, baking them early in the year to allow sufficient time for the aging process. Other food products currently include cheese spreads, date bread, and biscotti. Today the nuns bake sixteen different varieties of cheesecakes in two different sizes. In addition they have published Food for the Soul, a cookbook of baked goods by the late Sister Magdalene. These products are available at various grocery stores, shops, and restaurants, as well as in New Skete’s gift shops and online store.
Brother Marc helping the nuns make cheesecakes in the bakery.
The high-ceilinged kitchen was designed by an architect, for the nuns, with greenenergy efficiency in mind.
The Nuns of New Skete are ready to adapt and adjust to whatever tomorrow brings as their life continues to grow in meeting the challenges and joys of lives dedicated to God.
Dogs Then, Now,
Tomorrow
Brother Thomas holding a New Skete German Shepherd puppy. Circa 1970
New Skete’s relationship with the German Shepherd dog breed began when we were given our first dog, Kyr. Kyr was a beloved pet to all of us. Our relationship with him led us to adopt more German Shepherd dogs and at the request of friends, to begin breeding these intelligent and beautiful animals for companionship with others. New Skete’s German Shepherd breeding program has dedicated itself to providing the best possible companion dog. The excellence in temperament, personality, and structure for which our German Shepherds are known is the result of carefully researched and selected bloodlines along with the all-important early handling we give our puppies from the day they are born until they leave us. Over the past forty-five years our training work with dogs of all breeds has become increasingly well known, mostly through our books, How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend, The Art of Raising a Puppy, and Divine Canine, and through satisfied customers. Our aim is to make it possible for owners to include their dogs fully in their lives, to help them realize the dream of what such a relationship can be. Our methods employ a philosophy of praise, fairness, and discipline, set against a background of patience, repetition, and dedication. We are privileged to be able to share our philosophy on living with dogs through the hosting of seminars. By opening our monastery to fellow dog owners and dog enthusiasts, we have developed new relationships with those who share our passion for a spiritual connection between human beings and animals.
Brother Christopher and Brother Stephen (New Skete Companion) training dogs. Circa 1986
Now that we enter the final stages of completing The Maurice Sendak Dog Training Center, we are grateful to the many who have made this project possible. As we look at our continued mission of providing the most effective training for companion dogs for individuals and families, we anticipate expanding in a modest way with the training of service dogs.
Sister Cecelia and Jëck in front of Our Lady of the Sign icon.
Early 1980’s, the Companions sharing a meal at Emmaus House.
Emmaus House Then, Now, Tomorrow The Companions of New Skete began as a married monastic community, founded in 1983. They named their monastery Emmaus House in honor of the appearance of Jesus Christ to two of his disciples on their way to the village of Emmaus. The companions resided there until 2014. Today the Companions live in a health care center and an adult independent living community. They continue to be part of the community of New Skete, and to live as brothers and sisters beyond the physical boundaries of the monastery. However, in part to honor their life as well as to respond to the desires of many friends who wish to be more closely connected to New Skete, the possibility of making the Companions into a non-residential, oblate community is currently being explored. Emmaus House continues to be a house of hospitality and is open to guests for individual and group retreats.
Sister Brigid and Sister Melanie with two of the New Skete Shepherds.
We recognize the need for couples and individuals to make time to deepen the spiritual aspect of their lives. Our non-directed retreats immerse our guests in the daily rhythm of our monastic life. Our desire is two-fold: to provide a place of beauty, solitude and silence and to provide the opportunity for guests to interact with us, both informally and in our worship. We hope that our guests gain a better understanding of monastic life by participating in it, and will be able to incorporate spiritual practices into their daily activities with a strengthened heart. We hold in special esteem the virtue of hospitality. Though our own means are limited, we continue to extend to all who come our way the courtesies of hospitality. Whenever possible, we provide whatever may be asked of us in a friendly and cheerful way with respect and compassion. What we do to others so do we do to Christ, mindful always that we are brothers and sisters of all.
The gathering room at Emmaus House.