About & Communication

 

 The Ministry

of the Hermitage of Holy Archangel Michael 


Ermitaž Ćelija

Our Vision

“Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love”. 1 John 4:8

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

Luke 17:10


Our Values

Ascetic Labors

Therefore, my beloved, . . .work out your own salvation with fear and trembling“. Philippians 2:12


Silence & Contemplation

“Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10


Communion with God through Prayer & Sacrifice

“Pray, without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

“Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. 1 Peter 2:3

“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise”. Ps. 51:12


Brotherhood in Christ

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself”. Galatians 6:2-3


Our Mission

To Witness the Genuine Faith & True Path that is Christ God by the Threefold Good: Community, Solitude, Martyrdom.

— Perpetually offering supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people. so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Peter 2:2-4|

— Doing as our Lord did good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him”. Acts 10:38

--- Our Sacred Mission is to preserve unadulterated the Sacred Tradition of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church; to continue the mission of the One, Holy Apostolic Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the nations to whom our service has been entrusted; to endeavor at every hour to spread the message of salvation granted to the Holy Apostles as Our Lord commands, to do, as the Canticle in the Gospel states: “to be a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel” (Lk. 2:32).


Our Motto

“With One Mind, One Heart, One Life-in-Christ, We pray, weep, and repent for all!”

Ref.: Acts 4:32, Ephesians 4


The ministries of the Hermitage are:

To pray for those in need of salvation,

To pray for those in the holy priesthood,

To pray for those who struggle with mental distress;

To research the integration of secular psychological knowledge with Patristic Anthropological Wisdom-based philosophy named Agaposofia™ into a therapeutic pastoral care, what we call Psychonöetic Analysis™ and PNA™ Therapy,

We have also established a study center entitled the St. Maximus Centre for Agaposofia Studies & Patristic Philosophy SMC.  The purpose is to study the Church Fathers for the knowledge of therapeutic change; a theological therapy, one might say.

The Hermitage resident-founder and St. Maximus Centre director, Father Symeon Agiomichēlitēs was born in Auburn, New York [1957]; educated and trained in: 

  • under the tutorial of His Eminence Metropolitan JOHN of New York (1998 - 2001) Holy Name Abbey, West Milford, NJ
  • Bachelors of Professional Studies (BPS) degree (1998 SUNY) in Orthodox Psychotherapy & Conflict Resolution.
  • Theology Studies degree (incomplete 1994) St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, Pa.
  • Gestalt Therapy & Neurolinguistic Programming (completed 6 month training) Gestalt Institute of Syracuse, Dr Samuele Graceffo, M.D. director. (? 1990s). Syracuse, NY 
  • Other Studies: many hours in workshops & trainings for Addiction Studies.
  • Studies in Mental Health Coaching  

ΓΟΧ Hermitage Cell (or Ermitaž Ćelija) of St Archangel Michael is an eremitic house under the Holy Eastern Typikon and Monastic Rules of, both, Ss. Benedict & Romuald.  In observance of Romualdian-Benedictine Spirituality The Hermitage looks to the example of its ancient founder and Western Hesychast Saint Romuald of Ravenna (+1025).

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Ermitaž - is a hermitage that is owned by the monastics that live there, but is established with the blessing of the diocesan bishop. This is different from a monastery, which is owned by the bishop, and gives the monastics a greater degree of independence. However, no liturgical services are celebrated without the bishop's blessing.  


We do not accept visitors and pilgrims due to our hermitical nature.  However, you may still communicate with the Stavrophore-monk, Father Symeon Agiomichēlitēs via email here.

 Look forward to conducting a sincere communication with you,
Father Symeon Agiomichēlitēs

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