lviv with the monks

So yesterday, a few of the monks tiok me on an excursion to Lviv. It was great. We left at about 9.30am and got back around 11pm. Some people were a bit concerned that i was coming to ukraine at auch a time of political instability; but when i tol them i was foing to stay with a bunch of monks in a monasretary in a remote place, it cooled their anxiety. But now i have been to the midst of the protest and maidan in Lviv (a little maidan) with these same monks; and ive got pictures to prove it. Haha. But in eality, it is not a bad situation in Lviv thus far. The government here seems to be on the side of the people. Besides visiting the protest sites, we also visited quite a few other exciting places. We went to Holy Spirit seminary; a very beautiful building. There are some 220 or so seminarians studying there. Quite the difference from the 7 or so seminarians in ottawa. They also had a beautiful chapel there with a gorgeous iconostas. I saw many pictures of the parriarch there; WITHOUT A BEARD!!!! He looks so weird! Also, we were told about all the rules the seminarians had there; fr. Michael, you are completely off the hook. We habe it so good compared to those guys. Lord have mercy. Then we went to the philosophy faculty of ukrainian catholic university. Beautiful building; and it looked really good overall. Very happy to see it. Also saw tgeir iconography class- i wouldnt mind studying there at all. Then we visited the student residence of the university. Also gorgeous. Can you believe the students only pay maybe 80 bucks can a month to stay there. Fr. Makari was telling me he paid even less than that for a full year of seminary. Crazy!!! Thats including everything! Anyway, all you who donate to this university, it seems like it is really going to good use. It seems like a

it was bound to happen

So, for the second time in Ukraine, i got traveller's sickness.i got confident and ate and drank everything; except for the water from the tap. I am pretty sure it was the milk i had on sunday- unpasterised. No more milk for me in ukraine. However, when i was here 6 years ago, i got it from kubasa, and it was oh so much worse. So i can thank the Lord its not that bad. Plus, i am very glad to say that i got my doc back home to prescribed me some stuff for that, which has come in handy.well, i hope youhave all enjoyed my prettiest post so far. Hahaha. Tomorrow, i am off to lviv with a couple of the monks to visit the ukrainian catholic university and then the seminary and st michaels monastery. Full day. Praise the Lord!

day of resurrection

Today we had Divine Liturgy with bishop benedict- he is the former hegumen or abbot i am staying at. And it is je who helped organise for me to come spend time at univ monastery. It was a wonderful celebration of the Lord's resurrection. And i got to help in the kitcjen today- one of my favourite places to be. I have been in the laundry room all week, so this was a nice change. I will hopefully going to Pochaivsometime soon. This is a monastery with a miracle working icon of ourLady. Looking very forward to it. Praise the Lord! Christ is risen. (and coffee also helps me partake of the resurrection)

oh happy day

Praise the Lord! Today is saturday, and apparently o saturdays and sundays they normally eat meat at the monastery. So guess waht i had for breakfast today? Kubasa!!! Amazing! Praised be Jesus! And i am told bishop Benedict will be coming to visit today. He is the former hegumen, and he is the one that organised for me to come here. Praise the Lord! Adios for now.

smarphones are awful

Possibly the worst thing ever invented .

univ monastery

It is now my third day here at Univ Monstere in Ukroaine. The monks here are graetbt. I guess there are about 30 brothers here and about 7 priests. And apparently i cant make any mistakes here because i don't know how to edit.the daily weekday routine is as follows: 6am: matins and 1st hour 7.30am: divine liturgy 8.45am: breakfast 10-12am: work 1.30pm: 3rd and 6th hour 2pm: dinner 3-5pm: work 6pm: vespers, 9th hour and 3/4 of complines 7.30pm: supper and forgiveness part of complines And a couple of other notes: there is only warm water here 3 days a week, it !is bloody cold in the chapel all of the time Today we are fasting from dairy for th situation in Ukraine. Thats all for now, folks.

Hello all. I have not really had internet access for more than a few minutes (and on a smartphone) until today. I am currently staying with the wonderful SSMI sisters here in Lviv; they have been extremely hospitable and generous to me. Later today a sister will give me a tour of the city.
My arrival into Lviv yesterday was quite eventful. I first took a bus from Munich to Przemysl, then took another smaller bus to the border, then another one on the other side. This seems to be the cheapest way into Ukraine (but also meant 24 hours on a bus). On the small bus from the border to Lviv, I met a young man who was from Lviv. I asked him to catch me up on the news about Ukraine (as the last time I had heard anything was from Fr. Mykhailo in Paris on January 17th. He told me that it was not good at all. 5 people had been confirmed dead; one of which he knew quite well (from Lviv). He told me that he too was on his way to Kyiv, hopeful for the best, but expecting the worst.
When I arrived in Lviv, I met up with Fr. Stepan, a military chaplain. His parish had been turned into a pharmacy and basically a warehouse to prepare boxes of supplies to ship to Kyiv for the protesters. An amazing sight.
I also saw the people gathered in the square here in Lviv. Off to the side, I was shown the terminal from where people were being brought to Kyiv.
A sister here told me the Ukrainian people have been fighting for freedom all her living memory. However, it seems as if there is an understanding that in the upcoming days there will be a change; that there is no going back now. There is a great sense of hopefullness for change for greater justice here and a government of the people. And the people seem to be completely determined in this regard; even if at great risk and cost.
May God help this people and this nation.

Sorry, but no pictures for now.