To the society in general. Our society needs many alternative ways of life. The pursuit of wealth, social status and earthly pleasures which are the current social values, need to be counter balanced.
Monasticism is an established alternative society.
Monks live a particular way of life which aims at the soul s salvation and the salvation of humanity at large. The life of a monk is a model for natural living with properly classified values. The Orthodox monk is the quardian and the living proof of a long standing and holy Tradition. In the Orthodox monasteries Byzantium lives for ever as an environment of devotion and a special way of worship. Art and especially Byzantine icongraphy is one of the basic ways for someone to approach God.