Sarah Holiday's unexpected path to monastic life

Published: October 31, 2024

Author: Liz Dowell

After graduating from Greenville University in 2001, Sarah Holiday embarked on an unconventional and spiritually enriching journey: She became a nun.

AN EVOLVING FAITH JOURNEY

After graduation, Sarah's journey took many turns. She explored various denominations to find a spiritual home that resonated with her. It wasn't until her early thirties that she discovered the Orthodox Church, a tradition that profoundly connected with her.

"When you leave your parent’s house, you start to discover that you need to make your faith your own," Sarah said. "I visited many different churches, trying to find one that resonated with me. It wasn't until I learned about the Orthodox Church that I found what I had been looking for."

The Orthodox faith challenged Sarah to confront her inner self more deeply. "It helps you face who you are and address those deeper aspects before God. It's like cleansing the inside of the cup," she explained. "Monastic life takes that process to an even more intense level."

Today, Sister Sarah lives closely with other nuns at Pennsylvania's Orthodox Monastery of Transfiguration. Her spiritual growth continues: "With about 10 of us living together, we all have our rough edges. It's like being in a rock tumbler; we rub against each other, and we get smoothed out through that process. It forces us to face those things more deeply."

FINDING A SPIRITUAL HOME

Though the idea of becoming a nun was always in her mind, Sarah didn't initially see it as a realistic path. However, since joining the monastery, her faith has deepened and evolved. She felt at home when first visiting the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration.

"There were so many things I connected with," she shared. "I love color, and the monastery, with its Romanian heritage, is full of it—especially in the sanctuary. I've always loved Pennsylvania, too. It felt like God was paying attention to my little desires."

CALLING TO THE MONASTERY

During her senior year at Greenville University, while pursuing a degree in psychology and religion, Sarah participated in a class led by Professor Craig Boyd.

A pivotal moment occurred during a class trip to Saint Meinrad's Monastery in Indiana. There, she experienced the rhythm of monastic life for the first time, attending early morning services.

"I remember attending the first service of the day and thinking how much I would enjoy the routine of getting up early, going to church, and returning for services throughout the day," she recalled.

The experience planted a longing within her—a desire to engage deeply in daily worship. However, being Protestant then, she did not immediately pursue monasticism, setting the thought aside for years.

It resurfaced in her 30s. Facing $70,000 in student loan debt and a frightening surgery, she made a promise to God: If He helped her through the challenges, she would pursue the monastic life.

"That's when the door to monasticism opened," said she. "I had to work on clearing my debts, but the idea stayed in my mind. When I found myself on the operating table for a biopsy, I promised God that if He got me through the surgery, I would join a monastery."

After the surgery, Sarah sought guidance from her parents, priests, and the monastery's abbess. The abbess encouraged her to prepare for a move to the abbey within two years. Sarah managed to join just shy of that timeline, completely debt-free.

"I think God worked everything out," she said. "I moved in one month short of two years."

LIFE AS A NUN

Sister Sarah’s average days are focused on prayer and service, drawing her to a monastic life.

"The first service starts at 6:45 a.m.," she said. "We begin with personal morning prayers, followed by the morning church service. After breakfast, we go about our daily chores."

These tasks vary from day to day. "I might help in the kitchen, clean, run errands, or take care of household responsibilities like paying bills, working in the bookshop, or welcoming overnight guests.”

At 12:30 p.m., the nuns gather for a brief service called the Daily Hours, followed by lunch as a group. "After lunch, we clean up and continue our chores until 5 p.m., when we come together for the evening service."

Dinner is more flexible, allowing the nuns to have some personal time. "We can eat before or after evening prayers, depending on our schedule. There's time for walking, reading, or finishing any remaining tasks. The monastery expects us to mature and manage our responsibilities well," she said.

The schedule adjusts on days with a liturgy service, which includes communion. "We start a little later with the morning service, followed by the liturgy. There's some free time afterward for breakfast and personal tasks. We don't work on Sundays or feast days, so after the liturgy, we have more free time before the evening service," Sarah explained.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

Sister Sarah's studies in psychology and religion have helped her serve visitors to the monastery.

"I often answer the phone or interact with guests, and my background gives me some insight into where they might be coming from," she said. "It helps me be more patient, knowing that some people are dealing with mental health issues."

Having explored different denominations, Sarah has gained a deeper understanding of various religious traditions.

ADVICE FOR GREENVILLE STUDENTS

"Monastic life is built around stability, prayer, and hospitality," Sarah said. "It's a place where people can come for spiritual support and healing. But as society changes, with increasing mental health challenges and violence, the reasons people visit monasteries have shifted. Now, visitors often come with more complex emotional needs."

The nuns are not counselors; they offer spiritual guidance and a listening ear. "We set boundaries and assess whether visiting the monastery will genuinely help someone," she explained. "Our approach to engaging with visitors has changed from traditional Orthodox settings or the past."

For those considering monastic life, Sarah advised commitment to the same faith as the monastery, whether Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, or another tradition. "It's important to spend a few years in that faith to understand it fully. Talking with a priest or spiritual advisor is crucial to discerning if it's the right path."

"Visit different monasteries to find one that feels like home," she added. "Then, follow the guidance of the monastery's leadership. The monastic life isn't easy—it requires deep personal reflection—but it can be gratifying for those who pursue it out of a genuine love for God and others."