Back when I was sort of active in the Church, I taught a Bible Study on "Cults". As usual, a learned a lot more than I think I taught anyone.

I know nothing about this "Father Ephriam" other than what is posted here, so am certainly in no position to judge (as if that were any of my business in the first place).

But from what is shared here (thanks for your insight, bro. Emmanuel; I don't have a clue what you might need my forgiveness for, but for what it's worth you've got it!) I would not be too quick to start referring to what is going on out there as a "cult".

There are several established defining criterion, at least in the Evangelical Protestant Tradition, for a group, faction, or movement to qualify as a "cult" - and I really don't see any of that here.

A couple that I recall include;

"Extracannonical sources of authority" or "Bible in the left hand". Are there any writings of said Father E. which are held in equal or superior reverence to the Holy Scriptures, or to be just, if not more "Divinely Inspired"?

Would any of his precepts or commands supercede or "modify" scriptural mandate or message?

Is he or any other living individual considered to be a Divine intercessor or intermediary (Christ and the Holy Spirit alone being supposedly insufficient in this role)?
Are his proclamations considered to be "The Word of God" equal to or superceding Scripture?

"Exclusive Community of the Elect"; Do members of this fellowship believe that only they are the "chosen of God" and all others outside of their specific community will be dammned or attain a lesser eternal spiritual destiny in the afterlife than they will?
(Some pretty "mainline" denominations come pretty close on this one!)

Salvation by Grace AND "Works", rather than Saved by Grace alone (Sola Gratia)?
Admission to the Kingdom of God must be "earned" by adherance to strict rules, sacrifices, rituals and specified "good works".
"Grace" under such a system is only supposed to make all of our "points" "Count" towards Salvation, and is contrary to conventional Christian theology.

"Central Role in Eschatology"; Does this movement assume that it will play a pivitol or crucial role in the "End Times"?
Are these the only "elect" who are going to be raptured, for instance, leaving the reprobate infidel to suffer some sort of tribulation or eternal punishment?

There are a few more, but surely you get the gist of it, and can think of a few examples.

Now what I think we have here is an example of the ancient Monastic tradition in the midst of a modern culture that is very unfamiliar and in some cases uncomfortable with it.

This tradition predates Christianity in both Judaisim (The Essene Community comes to mind) and Eastern Religious Traditions.

This is where certain individuals are called - I think the Greeks used to call it "Sanctus" or "Set aside" (Don't we get the word "Saint" from that root word?) to a life of focused dedication to the Spiritual realm - prayer and meditation typically dominate the monastic lifestyle, and at least in the Christian Tradition, service of some sort to others in need is part of the committment.

The Monastic lifestyle is frequently a rather aescetic one, where the self and flesh are stringently denied in order to maintain focus on the Spiritual. I know that I could not cut it as a Monk, and I have profound respect for those who can, frankly.

This sort of tradition and lifestyle, needless to say, is going to be very foreign and even alarming to most inhabitants of a free, self-indulgant, materialistic and licensious culture like we have here in America in the 21st Century.

So I can see where a lot of people, even well-meaning Christians, might assume that some sort of weird, bizzare, or even cultic behavior was going on in there.

For all I know, it might be.
But I really don't think so.

Perhaps the Order might work on public education and outreach a little (they probably already do to some extent); that might help to resolve some of the fear... which in many cases is born of ignorance.
No doubt the charitable outreach mission of the Order helps in that regard.

Sometimes we just have to trust the Spirit to lead and direct in these instances; and from what I read in here about the spirit of peace that visitors to this place percieve, I am rather inclined not to worry about it too much.

Shalom in Yeshua'

"Uncle Jaque" - a Very UNorthodox Yankee Baptist };^{)~