http://www.pokrov.org/display.asp?ds=Article&id=1961
The Chilling Tale of a Monastery Follower Who Almost Committed Suicide
Author: Theodore Kalmoukos
Date Published: 2/21/2013
Publication: The National Herald
TNH: Did they try to enter into your private lives?
Smith: Paisios was saying to us repeatedly that in Orthodox spirituality there is no difference between a monk and a married person with the exception that the married person has a spouse. A monk doesn’t have sex, a married person doesn’t have sex. A monk stays up all night in prayer, a married person stays up all night in prayer. Your career doesn’t matter. Your marriage doesn’t matter. You kids don’t matter. You have a spouse and you live in the same space with her as a monk would if there was a nun staying with him.
TNH: What did you think of that initially?
Smith: Initially, you take small steps. They are trying to get your brain to dissociate with the decision that they are trying you to make.
TNH: Did you stop your sexual relationship with your wife?
Smith: Absolutely.
TNH: Are you serious?
Smith: Yes, it was either that or hell, what could you choose? We slept in separate beds, they were pushed apart. There was no affection, we lived in the same house and we treated each other like a monk and a nun do.
TNH: Did your wife agree to this situation?
Smith: Everyone agrees to it, but nobody wants to do it.
TNH: For how long did you stay apart?
Smith: For two and one half years or even longer.
TNH: Did you get to know Fr. Ephraim?