A step back to the future: the American monastic retreat and the Orthodox christian theology of psychophysical healing

Abstract

The monastic retreat is a common phenomenon among various religious groups in the United States of America. This paper examines the response of contemporary Orthodox Christianity to this phenomenon, focusing on the work of Fr. Meletios Webber, abbot of the St. John of San Francisco Monastery in Manton, California, and his 2010 retreat entitled “Physician Heal Thyself.” It will draw comparisons between the Orthodox monastic retreat and that of other religious traditions, especially the Catholic. It will explore the theological underpinnings that influence the practice of these retreats within the Orthodox realm, and in doing so will compare this Orthodox theology and practice of psychophysical healing with the goals and the practice of modern Western professional psychotherapy. This will lead to a consideration of the roles and goal of Orthodox Christianity within the realm of contemporary Western society.