We should become peasants.

[Daniel]

I voted for #4 because I would like see something more like an Orthodox neighborhood in some city, centered around its own parish church. As far as its mission work, feeding, clothing, and housing the poor/homeless would be good. Helping those who are unable to fixup their own home and the like. Orthodox businesses could be opened (bookstore, printing, woodworking and the like). Another benefit to this set up, I think, is not necessarily having to learn a new trade, like farming. Granted, it may be hard to start this time of community, as opposed to one that is agricultural based.

Daniel

[Julianna]

It's been many months since this thread has been stirred up! What're people thinking of it now? There's something of a community like this with conveniences near Dormition Skete and Holy Apostles Convent in Colorado if anyone'd wanna investigate how it works.

[Mary Kissel]

I'm not sure about others, but I know that I'm still interested in wanting to do something like this...but I will do what my husband decides to do as I've said before. I think a lot of us are still praying about this decision.

MaryCecilia

[Justin Kissel]

I'm still interested in the idea of being a part of an Orthodoxy community, but right now I'm rethinking how exactly I would (properly) find myself in such a community; I'm also, right now, much more focused on my present life situation (as I'm sure many of you are, from what has been said on the thread). Most of all, I'm just trying to live the life in Christ.

[Justin Kissel]

From Blessed Augustine's Confessions:

""And many of us friends, consulting on and abhorring the turbulent vexations of human life, had considered and now almost determined upon living at ease and separate from the turmoil of men. And this was to be obtained in this way; we were to bring whatever we could severally procure, and make a common household, so that, through the sincerity of our friendship, nothing should belong more to one than the other; but the whole, being derived from all, should as a whole belong to each, and the whole unto all. It seemed to us that this society might consist of ten persons, some of whom were very rich, especially Romanianus, our townsman, an intimate friend of mine from his childhood, whom grave business matters had then brought up to Court; who was the most earnest of us all for this project, and whose voice was of great weight in commending it, because his estate was far more ample than that of the rest. We had arranged, too, that two officers should be chosen yearly, for the providing of all necessary things, whilst the rest were left undisturbed. But when we began to reflect whether the wives which some of us had already, and others hoped to have, would permit this, all that plan, which was being so well framed, broke to pieces in our hands, and was utterly wrecked and cast aside."

Sometimes wordly problems do in fact thwart spiritual plans. Just thought I'd post this as sort of a way of bumping the thread up.

[rebecca]

The idea of an Amish-type Orthodox community sounds attractive in some ways, but I'd be nervous about it kind of developing its own spirituality and going off on its own tangent. Also, I don't believe that technology and modern conveniences are evil in and of themselves. They can be abused, but they can also help one with his/her salvation. We're very spread out, so it really helps to have Orthodox internet forums for those who don't have daily personal spiritual discussions with their like-minded brethren. Airplanes can be used to fly to visit monasteries, and to transport Orthodox literature. etc., etc., etc.

I've fantasized about starting an Orthodox city before. Just think...everything- education, the media, health care, etc.- would center around the faith. You would never be harrassed about taking a feast day off work again! And I don't know how many times I've lamented the fact that there are no parishes within serveral hundred miles which do the full cycle of daily services.

[Justin Kissel]

I've been thinking about this somewhat. If something like this ever did happen, I think perhaps the best way to do it would be to buy some land, live on it, and then if anyone wanted to join you you could sell them or give them a section of the land. They'd be responsible for building a dwelling place, any utilities, etc. It would be, legally and according to the law, their property. The community would be what it was made to be. People would gather when they chose to gather. People could work where they wanted to work. People could have whatever "modern inventions" they wanted. At least at first, and possibly the entire time, an "outside" (outside the community) church would be attended for the eucharist. It wouldn't be "the community attending the Church," though, but really the community would make the Church their home parish. In other words, it'd be no different than living anywhere else and going to a parish. Of course, more (reader) services/prayers could be done on the property, as a group or by individuals as they saw fit. One family could do missionary work via the internet and work at an aerospace company, another family might work on a local farm and live very simply and reclusively.

Why all this? These are all examples... possibilities. They are things that could happen naturally, though. There is no big plan constructed which people will follow. There are guidelines, of course (how do people get property? for how much? what if they want to live like hermits and have no contact with everyone else? etc.), but for the most part it would be like any other community. There's no obligation to stay, there's no obligation to accept an ascetical or spiritual standard you can't attain. The benefits are the same as having a very active Orthodox parish--but perhaps a few more (e.g., people might be willing to help each other more when trouble hits since we would know each other better). There are probably also drawbacks.