Monastic gathering in Poland with references to the Elder Ephraim the Philotheitistranslated

Traditionally, the annual meeting of the monks and nuns of the Polish Orthodox Church takes place at the beginning of September. This year, on September 3 and 4, 2026, representatives of the brotherhoods of the Monasteries gathered at the Holy Monastery of Genesis of the Virgin in Zwierki. The central theme of the meeting was: "The figure of Elder Ephraim of Philothetis as a renewer of the monastic life on Mount Athos and a builder of monasteries in the United States and Canada."

The meeting began with a prayer, which was performed by Archimandrite Petros, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Agios Onufrios in Iambletsna.  His Beatitude Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, Mr. Savvas, the Most Reverend Archbishop of Bielsk Mr. Grigorios, as well as the invited Hieromonk Ephraim (Pounan), Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint Peter in Montana, United States and spiritual child of Saint Elder Ephraim of Philotheitis.

After the few minutes of prayer in the church, His Beatitude addressed fatherly words to the assembled monks and nuns. He warmly welcomed them and expressed his gratitude to God, who once again claimed everyone to…