Women who renounced the world and dedicated their lives to faith. When and how did they feel the call? What are the fascinating life stories that led them to the “threshold of God”? What is their connection to their earlier life? How much do they lack secular amenities and what is the role of technology in their deacons? How do they experience their daily lives? What advise the faithful who visit them and how do they cope with their spiritual work?

The answers are given to Prime Time and Maria Voussoula by the nuns of the emblematic monastery of Panagia Damastas Fthiotida, the re -established Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi Atalantis and the oligomelos Brotherhood of Prophet Elias Sperchiados.

A unique trek, which records modern monasticism in small and larger communal monasteries, away from the frenzied cities.

Monasticism in Greece is one of the most powerful pillars of the Orthodox tradition -with female monasticism in particular to have the greatest in difficult times in the country. This tradition is continued by hundreds of women, dedicating their lives – apart from God – to social contribution and to the preservation of the arts. Many monasteries, after all, are known for their hagiographies, handicrafts, monastery products, and their charity work. But how is everyday life in a female monastery? What are today’s challenges of monastic life? Today’s Prime Time show is dedicated to those women who have chosen a different path in their lives – that of dedication and faith.

Medicine, Economics, Fine Arts and after the monastery

Gerontissa Ioanna, abbot in the Holy Monastery of Damastas, studied medicine in Berlin and acquired a specialty in Otolaryngology, and passed through other more specific, such as General Surgery, Anesthesiology. She stayed abroad for 17 years, but she had the struggle in her: medical or monasticism.

Sister Pelagia studied at the Athens University of Economics and Business and as soon as she got her degree, the next day, she went straight to the Monastery.

Sister Nektaria has been in the monastery for 20 years. He studied biochemistry in France. At some point she became a great miracle in her life and decided that she wanted to serve the Virgin Mary. And as she says, she doesn’t miss anything from her previous life. “Here’s another serenity, (18:54) another happiness you can live in. It cannot be compared to everyday life.”

The Monk Melanthia has learned to hagi. He studied fine arts in Italy from where he graduated in 2004. He is currently 44 years old and is in the monastery for the last 9 years. “Lonely life is very interesting and years pass very quickly,” says sister Melathia. He always believed in God, but he was not close to the Church. “But the right time has come … It’s a supernatural I would say. There is an option within us, very small, as a click I would say. And then the grace of God is doing.”

Sister Kassiani, on the other hand, was a fan of computer science and worked as a business consultant on software. But he felt that he could not move on.

Ioanna, Ioanna, did not give her parents’ pressures to marry and completely indifferent to all prospective grooms. And as he says he never fell in love with a man as much as God.

Sister Pelagia has her mother with her, who, when her father slept, became a nun. Life in the monastery is very nice, as he says, although he admits that there are difficulties everywhere. “But you do what you like.”

From the rock band to the monastery

Sister Kikilia participated in a rock band. “The monk does not choose what he is doing. Everyone in the monastery brings his talent and utilizes it for glory of God,” he says and adds that he was a drummer and that today he is responsible for hitting the Grand Smaller of the Monastery. He also studied shipping at the University of Piraeus and worked for a few years in shipping companies. Today she is 30 years old and as she notes in secular life, she lacks anything.

Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias – Lighthouse of Hope and Optimism

Sister Chrysostom studied philologist and today is in the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias, not from erotic frustration, as it is often heard about the nuns. “Then he won’t be happy. Generally you will not be happy if you follow this path if you are disappointed by someone. Because the charm is all in Christ.” he says. And as she says before he followed the path of God, he went out with her friends, she went for walks. But there was always this desire. “To become a nun. I always wanted it.”

The nuns also make their own incense. With raw material coming from Yemen, Oman, Somalia.

The Metropolitan of Fthiotida, Symeon, tells the monastery that he is a lighthouse of bright hope and optimism. With new nuns who went there to dedicate their lives to God.

The monastery that worked again by a group of monks who were girlfriends

In Atalanti is the Holy Monastery of Saint Anargyroi, who remained closed for many years. Opened again in 2000 with nuns. And the sisters in the monastery were all girlfriends. They knew. Seven women about 30, started together from Athens and literally managed to rebuild the monastery. They deal with everything: they paint, cook, build, make their own patents.

The monastery searched and found it on their own. They wanted to see the sea. And they found it.

“The women we met today are living examples of humiliation, love and sacrifice, who insist on keeping the flame of Orthodox faith. The primordial – always timely – messages of hope and inhumane love in a society that often seems to be walking without a compass. “ Maria Vousoula ends.