Monastic Vocations Gathering Draws Young Men to St. Peter's Monastery
Visit from Hilandar abbot highlights growing interest in Orthodox monastic life in America.
HARRISON, MT — St. Peter’s Monastery in Harrison, Montana, recently hosted a gathering for men discerning monastic life, featuring a rare visit from the Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodios (Marković), Abbot of Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos. The three-day event (Oct. 22–24) drew 50 young men from across the U.S. and Canada to meet the Athonite abbot, hear his homily, and participate in a two-hour question-and-answer session with him and Abbot Ephraim of St. Peter’s.
The visit marked a unique opportunity for those seriously exploring a monastic vocation to receive guidance from a spiritual leader of one of Orthodoxy’s most storied monasteries. Archimandrite Methodios was accompanied by Hieromonk Arsenije and Stefan Milenković.
St. Peter's Monastery is located on a thousand-acre ranch in Montana. The hope is for the property to support a monastic brotherhood by late 2026. Photo: stpetersmonastery.org
During his homily, the Hilandar abbot reflected on the enduring significance of monasticism, describing it as the “martyrdom of conscience” that emerged when the persecutions of the early Church ceased. He emphasized that monastic life remains essential for the spiritual health of the Church, offering an example of purity of heart, ascetic struggle, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel.
He warned, however, of the challenges facing contemporary monasticism, including the temptations of self-satisfaction, praise, and lukewarmness, underscoring the absolute need for genuine spiritual guidance.
"This happens because we measure our life and our spiritual struggle — if we have any — not against the lives and monastic rules of the holy men and women, but against the spirit of the age, which has led many Christians to order their lives according to the standards of the fallen world. For this reason, we suppose that it is enough to receive the monastic tonsure and that salvation is thereby already assured. We may never say this openly to others, nor even admit it to ourselves, yet that spirit dwells within us; and so we are in danger of being startled at the end when we hear this judgment about ourselves: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (Rev. 3:15-16)"
Citing St. Basil the Great, he stressed that monastics must reveal their thoughts to their spiritual elders in order to be healed, strengthened, and led toward perfection.
Drawing on the teachings of saints such as Nikolaj Velimirović, Paisios of Mount Athos, and the early fathers, Archimandrite Methodios affirmed that monks serve the world most powerfully by living the Gospel rather than preaching it, becoming “lights of discernment” for the whole Church. He reminded listeners that every Christian is called to spiritual struggle, and that in today’s consumer-driven culture, authentic monastic witness is needed more than ever.
The Very Reverend Archimandrite Methodios (Marković), Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Hilandar on Mount Athos. Photo: hilandar4humanity.org
The abbot concluded by recalling a vision given to St. Pachomius, assuring that in every age God will preserve faithful monastics who will shine even amid trials, encouraging those seeking the monastic path in Montana to pursue the life with humility, obedience, and courage.
More information on St. Peter's Monastery can be found here.
Previously, UOJ reported that Holy Cross Monastery had shared progress on its new church and building plans.
