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Godoncourt Monastery
Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe
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The ageless youth of a nonagenarian nun – Mother Cleopatra
She is 90 years old and has lived in the monastery since childhood. She loves silence, humility, and prayer. It is a delight to watch her carefully working at the loom. Her skillful fingers weave the multicolored threads, and with every centimeter, delicate, vibrant rugs emerge, thoughtfully patterned after designs passed down from her predecessors. The beauty, liveliness, and serenity of the nun are the fruits of a pure life, woven with chosen virtues. Nun Cleopatra Drăgănes

Monastere Godoncourt
May 115 min read


Stăniloae Symposium – conference with Mother Doroteea Ștefanache:“Spiritual Motherhood – Saints and Nuns, Guides to Holiness through Spiritual Life and Philanthropy.”
The event will take place 13–15 May 2026 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași, Romania. Full agenda on : https://simpozionstaniloae.ro/binecuvantata-esti-tu-intre-femei-maica-domnului-maica-fecioara-indrumatoare/programul Spiritual Motherhood – Saints and Nuns, Guides to Holiness through Spiritual Life and Philanthropy This study offers an in-depth analysis of the concept of spiritual motherhood, understood as a vocation through which a woman actively participates in the bi

Monastere Godoncourt
May 43 min read


Dialogue with Mother Doroteea - from veterinary clinic to “intensive care” for the soul
"This was the guiding principle in our family, especially from my grandmother: that everything must be done with love and that one must seek the image of God in every person. Failures are not the final things and do not mean that we are lost when we stumble. The monastic path is a path of repentance, not a path of glory. Monasticism is a calling to intensive care. For me, entering monastic life did not only mean keeping the promise I made to God when I was five years old—to b

Monastere Godoncourt
Apr 251 min read


The Metropolitan Cathedral in Paris hosted a concert for the benefit of restoring the stained-glass windows of the Godoncourt Monastery
The Romanian Orthodox Cathedral “Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael” in Paris hosted a charity concert on Saturday to support the restoration works of the stained-glass windows at the Godoncourt Monastery in France. Recitals were performed by Sabina Comici Sabareze on violin, as well as by the young musicians Eva Bătrânu and Juan Luis Jiménez Vînău on piano. The event was broadcast live on the Apostolia YouTube channel of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western

Monastere Godoncourt
Mar 212 min read


“The Radiant Sadness” – The Great Lent
The Fathers describe Lent as “Radiant Sadness,” two expressions that seem contradictory. This time of the year—the forty days of Great Lent preceding the Pascha of the Lord—forms a period of purification, of distancing from the passions, of acquiring virtues, and of spiritual growth. The old man is invited to “put on the new man” (Eph. 4:24). Lent, while it is joy and a source of joy, is also paradoxically “sadness” because of the Passion and death of Christ. Associated with

Joseph Demanet
Feb 233 min read


The Saturday of the Commemoration of the Departed and the Sunday of the Last Judgement
The Saturday of the Commemoration of the Departed and the Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday) form a diptych. On that same Sunday, the second Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated. Copyright La blouse romaine facebook page All Saturdays are dedicated to the departed, according to the recommendation of the Holy Fathers, as recorded in the Triodion: Saturday is the day of remembrance of all the faithful who have piously fallen asleep throughout the centurie

Monastere Godoncourt
Feb 162 min read


Meetings with Mother Doroteea in 2026
January 2026 January 24, 4:00 PM – Jussey, France February 2026 February 21 – presentation of a charity concert for the Godoncourt Monastery at the Orthodox Cathedral “Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael,” Paris March 2026 March 8 – Romanian Orthodox Parish of Basel March 21 – Romanian Orthodox Parish of Belfort March 22 – Romanian Orthodox Parish of Palaiseau, Paris region March 24 – Bacău March 25–26 – Iași April 2026 April 4–5 – Romanian Orthodox Parish of Avig

Monastere Godoncourt
Jan 271 min read


The 21st century suffers less from a lack of solutions than from a lack of inner presence.
Interview selected for the 2026 edition ‘Visionaries of the 21st Century’ of the European journal www.interviewfrancophone.net . Interview Francophone: Quel est votre diagnostic sur les opportunités d'évolution des concepts de spiritualité et bienveillance pour contribuer à un meilleur 21e siècle? Moniale Dorothee: The 21st century suffers less from a lack of solutions than from a lack of inner presence. Scattered, rushed, and saturated with stimuli, human beings struggle to

Monastere Godoncourt
Jan 43 min read


The Feast of the Nativity of Christ in the Orthodox Church
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Orthodox Church is celebrated in a manner that is both simple and solemn. “Where do you dwell?” the crowd asks Jesus. “Come and see,” He replies (John 1:39). “Come and see” is the principle of all missionary action in the Church. See for yourselves the spiritual beauty of praise that will lead you to heaven! There is no teaching Church and taught Church. The liturgy is the place of teaching for both priest and fa

Monastere Godoncourt
Dec 31, 20252 min read
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