About the Hesychia House of Prayer:
Hesychia House of Prayer is a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica from Fort Smith, Arkansas. The sisters who staff it live a life of prayer and work, and offer hospitality to adults of any faith who are seeking quiet time alone with God.
Why Hesychia House of Prayer?
Hesychasm is a mystical tradition of contemplative prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Based on Jesus’s injunction in the Gospel of Matthew that “whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you”.
There are four hermitages available for a stay as long as a day up to a couple months or so. All guests are to provide all their own food and do all their own cooking. The hermitages have AC and heat and wood burning stove, a small-sized but full refrigerator, stove, microwave, coffee maker, cabinet oven, toaster, and cooking utensils. Linens are also provided. Guests must provide their own transportation.
Guests using any facility at Hesychia are welcome to join the sisters for the community prayer which consists of the Eucharist and praying the Liturgy of the Hours. They are also welcome to use the chapel for private reflection, the deck of the main house, and the library. The sisters are willing to meet with guests for spiritual direction if asked to do so.
You are welcome to use the hiking trails in the 200 acres of wooded area or walk the country roads.
There is limited cell phone and internet service….which we consider to be a good thing, if you really want to concentrate on spiritual rest and renewal. Personally, we suggest you leave all electronic devices behind if going on any retreat.
For more information and great photos check out their Facebook page.
Traveling to the Saint Scholastica Monastery & the Hesychia House of Prayer:
Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, the Monastery is about 60 miles east of Fort Smith, or 100 miles Northwest of Little Rock.
Address: 204 St. Scholastica Road, New Blaine, Arkansas
Tel: (479) 938-7375
email: hesychia@stscho.org
Click here for the official website of the Hesychia House of Prayer.
