We should become peasants.

[Justin Kissel]

At this point, my wife and I are sure we couldn't do the original idea (farm, really simple, etc.). Whether we could do a modified version would depend on a few things. One thing that I don't think we'd be able to get past is jurisdictional problems. What Priest or Bishop is going to give their blessing to go join a "simple community" made up of ROAC, GOC, Matthewites and who knows what other groups. Now, if unity were to come about among these groups... then... maybe...

Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with the idea. I just understand that my own sinfulness severely limits what I can do. And some things just aren't feasible unless you got a boatload of money, or already have the property, equipment and skills.

[Etienne]

(Tongue in cheek) Justin, possibily it could be a traditionalist 'ecumenical' community, on the lines we are all branches of one church in resistance.

(Now where did I put that steel helmet?).........................

[尼古拉前执事]

Here are links to Old Believer / Old Ritualist/ Old Rite Russian Orthodox Christians who set up communities that often had communal farms:

The History of Oregon's Old Believer Community

Wandering Old Believers Find a Home in Alaska
Old Believers in Alaska
Nikolaevsk Community Overview
Nikolaevsk Community Water System PDF

The Old Believers Of Gouslitsy

The Old Believer villages on lake face extinction

Russian Old Believers in Estonia

[尼古拉前执事]

Here is an interesting site about the perspective of a non-Orthodox who moved to the town of Nikolaevsk because the people were real and the big city crime drove them from city-living. http://www.etext.org/Zines/TwilightTime ... 4hist.html

[尼古拉前执事]

An entire site fas been built on this topic by David, one of the principal contributers to this thread. You can find his site at Link removed at request of one of that site's administrator.

[spiridon]

I think the protestants and the new age hindus,and buddhist have this idea covered a long time ago..the fact remains that we have monastery`s to live in strict community and prayer..........anything else I feel would be a mockery of that very piouty...and what ever the reason for establishing a community of this sort, should remind us that we are called to live in the image of CHRIST wherever we live.........
funny thing is this isnt a bad idea, for those of us who struggle with the world and all its vices....in the old days one could feel the call to die to this world and go to a monastery and become a novice, and today they seem to run you off, because there is no room.............
how sad things have gotten for those who seek to abandon themselves completely to CHRIST