Photo: Green Monk.

 

Monk Linda: The First Lady Monk 

Image: portion of illuminated manuscript page from "The Book of Kells."

    On July 19, 1999, the Knights of Prayer ™ Monastic Order, a ministry of The Prayer Foundation ™, became the first Christian religious order ever to allow women monks. 
    Monk Linda, one of two co-founders of The Prayer Foundation ™, became the first officially recognized female monk in Christendom.  Married monks are also allowed, as are lay people (ordinary Christians as monks).

    "For many years I had the dream of becoming a monk," muses Monk Linda, "but because this had never been done before, I did not think it  possible.  Truly, 'with God all things are possible...and he shall give you the desires of your heart.'" (Matthew 19:26; Psalm 37:4).

    Raised in a Christian home, with born-again parents, Monk Linda accepted the Lord at age five.  Her mother was from Leon, Guanajuato, in Mexico.  Monk Linda grew up speaking both  Spanish and English. _______________   

   

Photo: Copyright 2001 S.G.P. All Rights Reserved. Photo of Monk Linda, wearing a green surplice (part of her Monk's Habit) in front of a 1,000 year old monastery Church. (Athens, Greece;  February 4, 2001)  Monk Linda visits the ancient Orthodox monastery of Kesariani in Greece.  A fifty minute climb up Mt. Hymettus brought her to the monastery, set in a serene forest overlooking both the Parthenon and the modern city of Athens.

Women in the Bible

    Unlike most religions; and contrary to the popular beliefs of those who are unfamiliar with it; the Bible gives a high place to women, one far ahead of its time.  Nearly 2000 years ago, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul wrote; "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28).

Almost 4000 years ago, before Israel had a king, God raised up Judges to deliver his people from their enemies.  Judges like Gideon, Samson, and Deborah.  "And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time...and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment." (Judges 4:4, 5).  Deborah led the army of Israel against their enemies.  They won the battle, but Sisera, the Captain of the enemy army, escaped.  He was killed by another woman, Jael, the wife of Heber. (Judges 4:21). _________________________________            

  Image: The Prayer Foundation logo (with white Celtic cross on a green shield).

     There are many wonderful stories of women in the Bible.  Women play prominent roles in the stories of Elijah, and throughout both the Old and the New Testaments.  After his resurrection, Our Lord first appeared to Mary Magdalene, although Peter and John were both nearby (John: Chapter 20).  The first European Christian was a woman named Lydia (a businesswoman, "a seller of purple").  The first church in Europe met at her house (Book of Acts 16:14,15).  In the time of the Celtic Church, women like Brigit, Ita, and Hild were founders and Abbesses over "double monasteries" containing both men and women (see also: Why Lady Monks?). 

Photo: Copyright 2001 S.G.P. All Rights Reserved. Photo of Monk Linda with green Monk's hood up, in front of Monk cells at Kesariani Monastery.    Copyright © 2001 S.G.P. All rights reserved.  _________________________________________________  

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  Copyright © 2001 S.G.P. All rights reserved.  

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