We are a Byzantine Catholic women’s monastery in the Eparchy of Parma, living in and drawing others into the spousal love of Christ through prayer and hospitality.
Why we are called "Christ the Bridegroom" Monastery:
About monastic life and our monastery:
Our History
In January of 2008, Bishop John Kudrick outlined his vision for the foundation of a monastery in the Eparchy of Parma as a response to St. John Paul II's call for the revitalization of Eastern Monasticism in his apostolic letter Orientale Lumen (Light of the East). We responded to that call. We were blessed with a house and property in Burton, Ohio, from the Social Mission Sisters who formerly resided there, and in the process of renovations undertaken with the help of many volunteers, we moved in on April 3, 2009. On March 29, 2010, Bishop John received our community into the eparchy. Mother Theodora was tonsured as our first stavrophore ("cross bearer"/life-professed) nun on November 20, 2011. On August 2, 2015, we were established by Bishop John as a Public Association of the Faithful. On September 27, 2019, Bishop Milan Lach completed the canonical process of the founding of our monastery, establishing us as a sui iuris monastery of eparchial right, and approved our typikon (rule of life). On September 29, 2019, Mother Theodora was elected hegumena (abbess), and on September 30, Bishop Milan publicly announced the canonical establishment and performed the liturgical institution of the hegumena. Mother Theodora resigned in April 2023. On July 12, 2023, Mother Cecilia was elected as hegumena; she was instituted on December 31, 2023.
The Icon of Christ the Bridegroom
The icon of Christ the Bridegroom portrays the selfless love of Christ for His Bride, the Church (Isaiah 54). He is dressed in royal colors as the betrothed King, corresponding with Sacred Scripture’s account of His mockery by the Roman guards before His crucifixion. The crown is a symbol of His marriage to the Church; the rope, a symbol of the bondage to sin, death and corruption which Jesus untied by His death on the Cross; the reed, a symbol of His humility.
