Saints Mary and Martha, Orthodox Monastery, Wagener, SC

As we write this double issue of our newsletter, we are saddened to report the repose of our beloved sister in Christ, Mother Lyubov, and are overjoyed to announce that we finally have a Building Permit. Both of these accounts are interwoven within this newsletter.

After Saint Nicholas Festival on Saturday, December 1st of last year, it was time to repack and travel to The Cottage in Augusta, Georgia, on Monday afternoon to refresh our booth. Resale items that had been on the shelf for a few months needed to be replaced with Christmas articles and different jewelry and knickknacks. All sales from these two venues are added to our building fund. It all adds up. Then, due to the need for back surgery, Donna, (a friend of the monastery and our resale “officianato”, was not able to man the booth or help in the kitchen. Mother Thecla and two other friends helped out that evening. You can only imagine the surprise people had seeing a nun in habit there. Well, it is one way to let people know about Orthodox Christianity and that there is an Orthodox Monastery in Wagener, South Carolina. With a man in kilts playing Christmas Carols on his bagpipes, a pot luck dinner, visiting and sales, the evening was interesting, to say the least.

The following Wednesday, we met with the HVAC (plumbing, heating and air conditioning) engineers, architect, and contractor and decided that the duct work and heat pumps were fine, but more research on geothermal heating and air was needed, as drilling forty-two wells to the closest aquifer (180’ down) is not truly viable. We are continuing to look for a solution to this problem.

After almost eight months, the architect submitted the monastery plans to Aiken County Planning Department. On December 28th, we received their approval of the plans with minor adjustments. One of those minor adjustments was the code requirement for a water fountain to be installed in the living/dining room adjacent to the chapel. Planning’s approval was one step closer to a Building Permit. This was our New Year’s present.

The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ was joyous and quiet with just the three of us. January 1st, Saint Basil the Great Feastday, and January 6th, Theophany (The Baptism of Christ) were also quiet and prayerful.

Knowing that the architectural plans had been submitted and would probably be approved, our contractor realized that we would need three zoning variances: (1) height variance 49’ — 14’ over the 35’ allowable; (2) unpaved parking area; and, (3) exemption from the requirement of a 10‘ x 5’ garden with one shade tree every ten parking spaces. In the middle of December, he applied for us to be on the docket for the Zoning Hearing on January 10th. The Zoning Board usually meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Due to a clerical error, and all of us make clerical errors, we were not on the docket for January. This turned out for the best, since Mother Thecla had to make an emergency trip to Texas to be with her mother who was in ICU after having suffered a heart attack.

Mother Helena and Mother Lyubov with faithful diligence took care of the prayer cycle, visitors, candle making, and other needs of the monastery. Almost every day brought news of one or two people dying. Saturday Liturgy was served here on January 12th, with Analucia Brown directing the choir. A countertop man was scheduled to give an estimate for replacing our old and wearing-through-to-the-wood countertops.

Since the first of January, eight people have been buried here.

Danna Photini Chambers — buried January 11th, from Saint John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, South Carolina

Walter Gregory — buried January 26th, from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Mission, Aiken, South Carolina

Tatiana Gregory — buried February 8th, from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Mission, Aiken, South Carolina

Mother Lyubov — buried February 25th, from Saints Mary and Martha Orthodox Monastery, Wagener, South Carolina

Micah Ray Meesner — buried March 6th, from Holy Cross Orthodox Church, Highpoint, North Carolina

Olga Orishyn — buried March 9th, from Holy Resurrection Orthodox Mission, Aiken, South Carolina

Lucy Zheltov — buried April 4th, from Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, West Columbia, South Carolina

Fona Larini — buried April 9th, from Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

May their memory be eternal!

It is noteworthy that Walter and Tatiana Gregory were married for 69 years and died eleven days apart.

Also of note is the realization that none of these parishes, missions, or the monastery existed thirty-five years ago when the Diocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America was founded.

Several days before Mother Thecla return from Texas, Mother Lyubov began having breathing problems. Not much was thought about this at first since she had a long history of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and, being a pharmacist, knew what to do. Each day brought news from Mother Helena that her breathing was worsening even with additional medical help. Mother Thecla’s brother took over the care of their mother, thus allowing her to return to the monastery. Having made the long drive from Texas to South Carolina and wanting the trip to be much shorter, she found that Mother Lyubov was worse than she thought.

Walter Gregory’s funeral, burial, and mercy meal were on Saturday, January 26th. Mother Lyubov had two more doctor appointments the following Monday and Wednesday.

Arnora, our grey and white cat of twelve years, “tanked” on Wednesday, also with a breathing problem and was taken to the veterinarian on Thursday. After x-rays and tests and putting her in an oxygen box, the vet informed Mother Thecla that she had Chylo Thorax Disease which meant that the walls of the lymphatic system had broken down in the chest and were draining into the lung area. In his twenty years of practice, he had seen less than ten cats with this disease, and all of them had died from it. He also stated that cats are very good at covering their true physical condition until forty-eight hours before they succumb to the disease. Mother Helena and Mother Lyubov sensing that she was one very sick cat and would not be coming back alive had said their goodbyes. The decision was made to put her down and bring her body back to bury among our other pets. She was Crazy Cat, Psycho Kitty, and Fräulein Schnitt, but, in the end, Arnora enjoyed being an only cat and a first-rate huntress.

February proved no less daunting. By this time, Mother Lyubov had difficulty doing anything as it was taking most of her strength to breath.

On Sundays, we were still going to Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in West Columbia, South Carolina, on one Sunday and Holy Resurrection Orthodox Mission which was in a store front in Augusta, Georgia, the next until the end of February. God willing, they will have their own property soon. That’s their story to tell, not ours.

When additional land was cleared for the monastery building, logs were sent to the sawmill to be milled. On February 1st we made the first of three trips in our pickup to the sawmill to bring our lumber back to the monastery and set the boards up to dry. During the last week of Mother Lyubov’s life, we made the other two trips while someone stayed with her. This lumber is to be used for floors and wainscoting in the monastery; what was not good for lumber became firewood for the Hermitage.

February 2nd brought the expected news that Tatiana Gregory had reposed at age 93, eleven days after her husband Walter, age 98. They were such a wonderful couple who lived through most of the 20th century in Russia, China, Japan, and the USA. She was buried next to her husband the following Friday.

Back in January when our contractor notified us that we would not be on the Aiken County Zoning Board’s docket until February 14th, major disappointment overshadowed us. How long was this going to take? Were we meant to build this building? Was God trying to tell us something? Should we continue to have faith and patience and go forward? Having come this far and having struggled mightily, surely God would not let all our work be for naught? Friends who have worked on building committees to construct churches and church halls expressed their empathy for what we were going through and shared their own frustrating experiences with us. Hearing their stories allowed us to realize that all this “red tape” was not endless and insurmountable. After much prayer and more questions, we decided to “stay the course” that was set before us. Then the date for the Zoning Board was moved to February 21st due to the lack of having a forum on the 14th.

Returning to the first part of February, by Sunday evening the 3rd, Mother Lyubov finally stated that she had done all she knew to do and needed to be taken to the emergency room. Mother Helena stayed at the monastery to see to things there, while Mother Thecla drove Mother Lyubov to the Lexington County Hospital Emergency Room. Several hours later Mother Lyubov was admitted. Of course she quipped, “I’m not sick, I just can’t breath.” To which Mother Thecla responded, “Yeah, you’re not sick. That’s why we’re in the ER, and you’re going to be admitted to this hospital.”

Being a down-to-earth, straight-forward, mince-no-words woman, Mother Lyubov summarily dismissed the internist when he informed her that she had end-stage-four uterine cancer and that nothing could be done. The pulmonologist recommended a needle biopsy which was done. The diagnosis was also end-stage-four lung cancer. She was released from the hospital on Friday evening, February 8th with a supply of oxygen and told she had fourteen days to live. Palmetto Hospice enrolled her with them on Saturday, took care of all the paperwork for her soldier son-in-law to take emergency leave to travel with his family to see her. By Sunday morning, all the family that could was here to see her one last time before her repose.

By Monday afternoon, all of them had left. On Tuesday Hieromonk James Bohlman, our spiritual father, arrived to hear her confession and to commune her. Each day brought new challenges as she declined. We were blessed with the help of many friends who stayed with her so we could tend to other pressing needs of the monastery. Knowing that our contractor truly required our presence at the Zoning Board’s meeting on February 21st and that the Zoning Board had sent a letter stating that they would make a decision whether we were there or not, Mother Thecla and Mother Helena left Mother Lyubov in capable hands and attended the meeting. All three variances were approved. Mother Lyubov had wanted to attend this meeting the week before, but now was markedly failing and almost nonverbal. When she heard the news, she raised her right arm and said, “Yeah!”

Another friend offered to stay that night so we could get some rest. Since neither of us had had a full night’s sleep in over two weeks, this was most welcomed. Late Friday afternoon, the hospice nurse, who happens to be Orthodox and one of our friends, made a home visit for the assigned hospice nurse who was not working on Friday. Experience told her that Mother Lyubov was nearing the end of her life on earth. Almost two weeks to the hour, Mother Lyubov reposed in our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Saturday, three funeral tents were pitched over the place where our chapel will be built. On Sunday, she was placed in her coffin and taken from the doublewide, down the driveway, and laid in state under the center tent. At 4:30 pm, we prayed a Panikhida for her and then the Psalter was read until midnight. Being outside, cold, and surrounded by forest, one of us stayed with her to keep the coyotes away.

At 11:00 on Monday morning we prayed the funeral service. Hieromonk James Bohlman was the officiating priest with the help of Deacon Vassily Kocher both from Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church, Rincon, GA. Fr. Marcus Burch from Saint John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, SC, Fr. Thomas Moore and Fr. Timothy Yates from Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, West Columbia, SC, Fr. John Parker from Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC, Fr. Anthony Bryant and Subdeacon Nicholas Griswold from Saint Katherine Western Rite Orthodox Church, Pellion, SC, and Fr. Peter Smith from Saint Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church, Norcross, GA., were in attendance, three priests on each side of her casket. Her three daughters and other members of her family, parishioners from several churches, and other friends attended her funeral and burial. We estimated that there were over a hundred people.

Mother Lyubov was then taken to an area just southwest of where the monastery will be built and buried in the part of our cemetery blessed and reserved for nuns who live and die here.

Afterwards, everyone was invited to a Mercy Meal that was organized and prepared by Frances Shorten and Maria Floyd. It was hard to get into the doublewide edgewise. We prayed that the floor would hold, and it did. So did the septic tank. It was another reminder why we need the monastery building.

While she was dying and after her repose, we came to realize even more that she influenced and helped many people. Even now we know she continues to serve God.

Two Saturdays later, a Memorial Saturday on which we remember the departed, we were praying the stichera (verses) of the Praises (Lauds) of Matins. The following stichera stood out:

Why does man deceive himself and boast?
Why does he trouble himself in vain?
For he is earth, and soon to the earth he will return.
Why does the dust not reflect that it is formed from clay,
And cast out as rottenness and corruption?
Yet though we are clay,
Why do we cling so closely to the earth?
For if we are Christ’s kindred, should we not run to Him,
Leaving all this mortal and fleeting life,
And seeking the life incorruptible,
Which is Christ Himself,
The illumination of our souls?

On our last trip to get our lumber at the sawmill, the pickup leaked antifreeze onto the floor board of the passenger’s side. After finishing that trip with more prayer than usual, we called our mechanic, who graciously hauled it to their shop. So the day after the funeral, we fetched the repaired pickup.

After obtaining the three zoning variances and a zoning permit, our contractor lost no time having DHEC come out to test the soil perk and inspect the proposed location of the septic tanks and grease trap. The 911 employees were confused as to which of our buildings had which number; therefore, they asked us to assist them in figuring this out. which we did gladly. All of this done, our contractor applied for a building permit.

Earlier in this newsletter, we mentioned replacing the countertops in the kitchen. During this same time frame, he gave us an estimate on the laminate that we choose. We agreed and he placed the order. Not knowing when Mother Lyubov would die, we scheduled him for Monday, February 25th. That became the day of her funeral, and so we rescheduled it for the 27th. This meant clearing the kitchen countertops of everything, emptying out the cabinet under the sink, and moving two bookshelves away from the eating bar, then putting everything back in place after they finished.

“Couldn’t this have waited?” you ask. No. Divine Liturgy was schedule to be served here on Saturday, March 2nd. Besides, we want our monastery to be in fairly good order.

On Wednesday, March 6th we had the burial the unborn child, Micah. Then on the following Saturday, we had the funeral and burial of Olga Orishyn, a gracious woman of 94.

Some of the people who attended Mother Luybov’s funeral looked around the monastery and saw that we truly needed help in maintaining it. Mother Luybov was one-third of our work force and did much. Even with the three of us, it was too much. With only the two of us, it is difficult at best and many things are left undone. We and so many others are praying that God will call other women to the monastic life at this monastery.

Thanks be to God, candle orders continue unabatedly. Mother Helena is hard pressed to fill all the orders. We are most thankful to the two people who have volunteered their time, one on Mondays and one on Wednesdays.

Some friends from Augusta volunteered their time to help us start putting the Hermitage back in order. Many people do not know how to build a fire and keep it from smoking up the inside, so everything was covered with soot. In the process, we discovered that at least one if not more squirrels had torn through the front porch screen and the window screen to enter the Hermitage. Once we find its other entrance hole, block it, finish cleaning everything, and putting it back in order, the Hermitage will be ready to use again.

On Western Good Friday, March 29th, nineteen people came from the Raleigh/Durham Parish, Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church. Nine of them were children who worked alongside the adults. The outdoor ramps and wooden stairs were sanded, rotting wood replaced, and painted. Leaves were raked up and composted. One man had a chainsaw and cut up the pile of logs that could not be milled into firewood size. Some of the larger pieces were split. Fallen limbs were collected and stacked up for burning. Two trees that overhung onto Spinner Lane were felled and hauled to the burning pile. (We use the ash in our gardens.) A fancy, aluminum table had the peeling black paint scraped off it and given two coats of gray primer. Since then, it now sports a bright, royal blue coat. They worked hard, enjoyed each other’s company, and had a good time. For all their work, we are most grateful.

Other individuals and couples have volunteered their time, talents, and strength to help us with the many tasks that abound here, and, in the process, join us for prayer and have some quiet time.

Ready or not, Orthodox Lent began on March 18th. We received wonderful news from our contractor on the evening of April 1st. We had a building permit. Thanks be to God.

On the Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Lent, April 23rd, the surveyors arrived to square off and mark the four corners of the monastery building. The building is too big to square off in the manner of a small building. Also, the men to dig and set the foundation of the first third of the building arrived. The foundation should be finished by Friday. It is thrilling to see construction finally begin.

Due to inflation, the prices of building materials continue to rise rapidly. We decided that our building fund money is worth more invested in brick and mortar and, therefore, proceeded with building the first third. While $400,000 looks like a great deal of money, it isn’t when it comes to constructing a building of this size. With this money and probably a little more, we can build the shell of the first third with the floor trusses and sub-floor. The interior will have to be finished off as we have the funds to do so. This third has a chapel, two guest bathrooms, a priest’s bathroom, space for a sacristy, a washer and dryer closet, a small workroom, and an exterior stairwell to the second floor which has four cells and a long, wide hallway.

Once a building permit is pulled, you have to begin within six months or lose the building permit and start all over. Combined with major building code changes starting July 1st which would make construction even more costly, the reasons mentioned above, and, most importantly, the conviction that God wants us to continue on this course, we made the decision to begin building. We will continue to convert every cent we can into bricks, mortar boards, labor, etc.

We ask for and appreciate your contributions to build this monastery. All your gifts add up to make this dream a reality.