Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
21 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 9 days
Feedback
14
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are an international Monastic community of Orthodox Christian Nuns, with roots in Greece. Our Sisters are from various countries (Greece, Norway, England, Russia, USA, Georgia, and others). We are located on a farm in a mountain village near Valldal.
Our main occupation is keeping the daily and festal services of the Liturgical year, which encompasses ecclesiastical arts, Byzantine music, spiritual literature, and hymnography, but we spend time also cultivating the farm, especially for herbs, because we produce all-natural, handmade healing balms and soaps.
We are open to hosting volunteers, who demonstrate a strong worth ethic, and a desire to participate in the Services, especially if they have specialized knowledge or experience in any particular area of work, especially Construction and Forestry.
Guests are requested to participate in the program of the Monastery. As long as we have resources available, every Trapeza (common meal) provides a cooked food, salad, fruit, and bread. In periods/on days of "fasting" prescribed by the Church (Great Lent, Wednesday, Friday, etc.), the food does not contain meat, dairy, eggs, fish, or oil. In periods/on days where all foods are allowed, the food may contain meat, dairy, etc. We do not have the possibility to cater to any dietary preferences such as vegan, vegetarian, raw diets. Volunteers are expected to eat the same food as the Sisters, in the common meals. The hours between meals are designated for work projects (10.30-16.30). The Sisters will accompany, demonstrate, and explain to workers the task at hand. Volunteers are required to dress modestly. No smoking on the grounds of the Sacred Monastery. Please be prepared to work in groups with Sisters, with other volunteers, and also alone.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
How to work with other people from various countries. Have an insight to daily Orthodox Monastic life. Be able to develop their skills and knowledge in the framework of the tasks and activities described above.
Help
Foraging, collecting wild berries, herbs, roots, nuts. Vegetable, herb, flower gardens. Permaculture farming. Weeding. Forestry work: cutting trees for firewood, forest mainentance. Fruit trees. Cutting grass on the mountainous farm. Fence-building, fence maintenance. Digging trenches for storm water drainage. DIY furniture restoration and painting.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
Greek: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Georgian: Fluent
Norwegian: Fluent
Russian: Fluent
Italian: Intermediate
Accommodation
A private bedroom, which may be required to share with other workaways. A common bathroom. Camping is allowed.
What else ...
Much sight-seeing, hiking, fishing, skii
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours/day, 5 days/week
Feedback (9)
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
I wanted to express my immense gratitude to all of you for the wonderful time I had in Ruset. Norway is an astonishingly beautiful country, and you all showed me some of its most impressive places. Moreover, it was heartwarming to see the unconditional warmth and hospitality with which… read more
You live in an exceptional place ,with an exceptional mindset, in an exceptional way.
The monastery is perched on a hill face opposite the UNESCO World Heritage Tafjord, where, I was told, the King of Norway famously goes walking. Indeed, the… read more
Amazing dishes, 5 stars for the kitchen.
We did different tasks around the monastery such as… read more
About the daily routine: At 7 o'clock the sisters held a service but we didn't have to attend and could sleep a little longer. At 10 we had the first meal,… read more
We felt very welcome and appreciated the daily structure of the… read more
My duties as a volunteer included… read more
