Former Black Female Basketball Star Now Russian Orthodox Nun

sue57 · Post by **sue57** » Wed 16 July 2003 12:49 am

First, what a fascinating story! Second, the comments about ROCOR made me want to cry, I HATE hearing things like that! Third, I have to admit I'm a little bit skeptical about the family relations-no forwarding address stuff. The media so often gets things wrong, and who knows what strange or painful dynamics exist in any family? Unfortunately, the end result was, the ROCOR comes off sounding like some kind of crazy cult. I don't want to be negative, or sound ignorant, but if a basketball star became a Buddhist nun, I bet the story would have a different tone! In fact, I think that Buddhist monasticism is the only kind that the Western world tolerates anymore. I liked reading this very much, but now I'm depressed. And anyone who would compare the ROCOR to "Bible-belt Fundamentalists" is, forgive me, just an idiot.

sue57 · Post by **sue57** » Wed 16 July 2003 12:52 am

Good for Bishop Auxentios!! What an excellent (and restrained) response.

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Tue 12 July 2005 11:43 pm

I was browsing and came across this. Does anybody have any knowledge to date? I find this story very inspirational.

Let's get beyond the jurisdictional stuff and focus on the meaning of being called to God, whether to Orthodoxy or to monastism or simultaneosly(to both).

Mykael · Post by **Mykael** » Wed 13 July 2005 6:09 pm

joasia wrote:
I was browsing and came across this. Does anybody have any knowledge to date? I find this story very inspirational.

Let's get beyond the jurisdictional stuff and focus on the meaning of being called to God, whether to Orthodoxy or to monastism or simultaneosly(to both).

Yes. I do have some information.

I am one of those regular parishoners at St. Nicholas in Dallas. I was there when she was made a catachumen. I have talked with her several times; and still carry a gift she had given me at Pascha. She is a rare and wonderful person; her sincerity and conviction is truely inspireing. The last I had heard she was still at the convent in Canada.

Lowly Mykael

romiosini · Post by **romiosini** » Fri 15 July 2005 11:06 pm

What I find wierd is why didn't she remain in obedience to her first spiritual father in the begining. If Elder Archimandrite Father Dositheus taught heresy then I would understand. But, the fact is, this girl left because the advice given to her didn't come up to her standards of Orthodoxy. By all means, could've this Athonite Hieromonk not have seen if she is meant to be a nun or not? Father Dositheus is a top-noch confessor in Texas, and is highly regarded around North America to be second in the Level of Elder Ephraim. If she didn't want to listen and understand the advice a spiritual grandson of Saint Elder Joseph the Hesychast gave then we might have a problem. (forgive me for going of topic) But seriously! Do we just run of when our confessors (or spiritual advisers) tell things we don't want to hear? I hope she doesn't fall into delusion, for the Love of God, to be a nun in the first place, is to be obedient. If she couldn't do that, even before she was baptised to her adviser, what makes her able live an Orthodox Christian life? I agree with Julianna, Orthodoxy isn't some kind of egotistic "I do whatever I want" Church. I don't doubt her compassionate way of living, but a novice must take a certain amount of time before being Tonsured a Rassophore. Same thing here, there is needed a special amount of time once you are baptised to enter in a convent. Of course, a novice can leave at all times, and still is able to get married, even after getting to prayers of a novice and wearing a rassa. God enlighten her to lead her to the Truth.

By the way, if she would've been obedient and patient, there was a Women's Monastery opened in Texas close to Elder Dositheos, Saint Parasceva the Great Martyr, the Abbess there is Eldress Parasceva. I remain sceptical and worried that her zeal of monasticism won't take her to delusion.
Many Fathers say that one must have his zeal clarified by his spiritual Father/Mother wether or not it is from God or from the Devil. That is the first things I learnt when I began understanding and trying to live the spiritual life. Wether it is monasticism or not, the feelings the girl has could be from the devil. Forgive my idle talk, I hope I haven't scandalized or insulted anyone in any way.

Romiosini

Mykael · Post by **Mykael** » Sat 16 July 2005 12:30 am

Forgive me everyone; but I think people are reading way to much into this. I do not presume to know what the Novice Paula was thinking or feeling.

At no time in my short conversations with her did I get the impression of pride or willfulness. Only a quiet desperation. Just as someone who is drowning will fight with thier last breath to breath just one more time...

When she was in contact with Archimandrite Father Dositheus she was only asking questions, Perhaps She did not ask the right questions : perhaps He did not understand what she needed. I do not know, God knows... In any event she is/was not compeled to obedience. None of us are. Our spiritual Fathers, adviser, Priests can not compell us only encourage, cagole, and sometimes plead, but never compell. We must choose the right path of our own free will.

Simple obedience is faith in God, it comes with humility, and meekness. Both of which are gifts of The Spirit which she had not yet recieved. Please do not be too harsh on her.

I am reminded of an old saying "what burns twice as bright, burns half as long" I pray that is not the case with her. But no matter what happens She has already done what many, including myself would find impossible. She walked away from wealth, fame and glory to seek the Kingdom of God. I pray that She will remember me in her prayer as I have remembered her in mine.

lowly Mykael

joasia · Post by **joasia** » Sat 16 July 2005 2:46 pm

Romiosini wrote:

...to be a nun in the first place, is to be obedient If she couldn't do that, even before she was baptised to her adviser, what makes her able live an Orthodox Christian life?

I'm surprised with your comment. Even being born in Orthodoxy, does not guarentee that the person will take advice from a spiritual elder or live a blessed Orthodox life. She is not a nun and therefore is not obligated to be obedient. You don't know why she made the decisions she did.

When it comes down to it...nobody here knows what she went through and is going through. So I find it quite destrubing that people would be so critical. They have no right to be.

Everybody comes to God in their own way, as God sees fit. Some, at a slow pace and some at a faster one. None of us have the right to say what is right or wrong for Paula.

Mykael wrote:

She walked away from wealth, fame and glory to seek the Kingdom of God

I think that this is the only aspect of the article that can be considered accurate. The rest is all speculation.

Last week, I didn't know about her and today I do. She will always be in my prayers, from now on. Everyday, I am amazed on how God works in my life.