Monastic Life
Knowing her deep desire for the virtuous life, her father granted her wish and built her a large palace in the wilderness. St. Demiana changed the palace into the beginning of a Coptic Orthodox coenobitic monastery for nuns by living the monastic, ascetic life with her forty virgin friends; the Lord's hand was upon them, giving them strength and comfort. St. Demiana was their abbess; they spent their time fasting, doing handiwork, reading the holy books and praying fervently to God. Often, St. Demiana spent time in the seclusion of her room, praying and crying, as she felt the love of Jesus filling her heart.
Read more about this topic: Demiana
Famous quotes containing the words monastic and/or life:
“I like a church; I like a cowl;
I love a prophet of the soul;
And on my heart monastic aisles
Fall like sweet strains, or pensive smiles;
Yet not for all his faith can see
Would I that cowled churchman be.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The painter stood entranced before the work which he had wrought;... he grew tremulous and ... crying with a loud voice, “This is indeed Life itself!” turned suddenly to regard his beloved:MShe was dead!”
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)