“The essential contribution of monasticism is prayer for the salvation of the world.  The monk is purified from the passions by the grace of God, communion with the pain of the world, and understands (despite living outside the world) the error, the distresses, the sinfulness of the world and  grieves for it, mourns and prays for God to give the spirit of repentance in the world.”
Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi
~2015 Interview