Visit to the Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints

Recently, a few members of our parish along with Fr. Deacon John visited the Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Joshua Paisios has kindly provided a summary below of his experience labouring and praying with the monastics during his stay.

I along with a group of five others recently visited the ‘Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints’ on the Isle of Mull and Iona, on the west coast of Scotland, for several days. The trip was organised so we could help the nuns on Mull with some of the more difficult labour jobs that needed doing at their little hermitage. Alongside all the work, we were blessed with the opportunities to pray with the nuns and take part in some of their services, to get a glimpse into the monastic life and to explore and experience the churches, chapels and holy sites on both Mull and Iona.

The primary goal of the trip was to build a bridge for the nuns which would create a shorter route for them between the two houses as well as fixing the road that led down to the houses. The trip also provided us with an extraordinary opportunity to learn more about orthodox monasticism and to grow in our own knowledge, understanding, faith and spiritual life.

Our days began with prayer and worship with the nuns. In the morning, we would drive from the pilgrim house to either the small chapel at the hermitage or to the main Church in Kilninian, which was a 30 minute drive from the pilgrim house. After the service had finished, we would all eat breakfast, graciously provided by the nuns, and have ‘The Ladder of Divine Ascent’ read to us by the abbess while we ate.
We would begin work at 9 or 10 a.m. (depending on how long the morning service was) and work up until 6 p.m., having occasional breaks in between to have lunch or rest and refuel with tea and biscuits.
At 6 p.m. we would have dinner in one of the houses at the hermitage where we would have another chapter of ‘The Ladder of Divine Ascent’ read to us. After eating, we had 10-15 minutes to rest, occasionally having the opportunity to have conversations with the abbess, and then walk up to the chapel for a Vespers service.

The main job was to build a wooden bridge across a small stream so the nuns would have a shorter alternative route between the two properties on the land. This meant building a 5 metre bridge out of wood and building foundations for the bridge on either side of the stream using large stones and rocks found within the stream.
The other job was to fix the gravel road leading down to the two buildings. The road had been littered with huge potholes that required refilling with gravel and packing down tightly to prevent it from being displaced and coming back up again. Once we had finished the road, one of the nuns informed us that the postman was singing our praises.
The heavy rain on Mull was an issue initially as it massively increased the water levels in the river and prevented us from working on the bridge. Looking back on it, this was actually a huge blessing as it showed us that we needed to raise the bridge even higher than was originally planned. It also helped us to fix the road more efficiently as the rain showed us where new potholes were developing as well as softening the ground, allowing us to pack the gravel in easier. Once we had finished the road, the sun didn’t stop shining on us, despite the miserable weather forecasts.

One of the most striking aspects of monastic life was the balance between silence and warmth. The monks and nuns expressed their welcome through warm smiles and gentle, respectful bows. Although they rarely spoke, their non-verbal communication conveyed a deep sense of kindness and hospitality. Their silence did not feel cold or distant; instead, it created a calm and respectful atmosphere in which even small gestures carried meaning.
Another noticeable feature was the absence of distractions. There was no background music or unnecessary noise to fill the silence. Communication was minimal and only took place when necessary, reinforcing a sense of mindfulness in every interaction. This quiet environment encouraged prayer and made me more aware of my own thoughts and surroundings.
Everything the monastic community did appeared to have a clear purpose. Whether performing daily tasks or interacting with others, their actions were carried out with care, attention, and a sense of devotion. Even the simplest activities seemed to be approached with intention, respect and love.

I think I can speak for all of us who were on the trip when I say that our time at the monastery was absolutely invaluable. To be away from all the noise and stress of the world so we can focus on service and prayer was like having a weight taken of our shoulders and although it was very physically demanding and tiring, it was immensely rejuvenating spiritually.
I learned and experienced a lot at the monastery, and it has given me a much deeper understanding of the spiritual life and what it looks like in practice. As well as learning new lessons and gaining new experiences, I feel like my faith has been strengthened and the zeal I felt when I first came to the Church has been reignited. I am incredibly grateful to have been able to go to the monastery and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is presented with the opportunity to go.