Theophany, Coptic Nun Friends, the March for Life, and What's Happening in 2023

Here's a little of what's been going on at our monastery in the last month: 

The Feast of Theophany was wonderful. It is exciting to celebrate major feasts like Theophany in our newly renovated chapel because we get to spend so many hours in such a beautiful space. We are continually so grateful for all of your support of our life which makes this possible. We processed around the property to each poustinia and the monastery singing the Theophany troparion countless times as each room was blessed with Jordan Water. We had a nice dusting of snow which made it all a little more beautiful. 

A few days later, we had a day to spend time together as a community, which we have every six weeks or so. This time, we spent the morning making bread and watching a really neat documentary on the beauty, history, and science of breadmaking. In the afternoon, we packed up our freshly baked bread and got in our van to visit our Coptic Nun friends in Warren, at the Monastery of St. Mary and St. John the Beloved. We've had a good relationship with the nuns there for years, and it was so good to get to spend time with our sisters in monastic life. We had lunch together and then prayed with them in their chapel. Then, they showed us their new monastic church and their wood shop. It was really nice to pray with them and talk with them and just be together. 

This past weekend, Mother Theodora, Sister Onuphria, and our friend Maddie went to Washington, DC, for the March for Life. The march had a joyful tone, as we celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and also a deep sense of gravity with how much work still needs to be done in our country to restore a culture of life. It was good to have a really focused time of prayer for an end to abortion, as well as other life issues like euthanasia and the death penalty. 

This week, some finishing touches are happening in our chapel, like shoe molding and hanging some more icons. 

This past Sunday was the Sunday of Zacchaeus already! As we prepare to enter into the Great Fast, stay tuned for announcements of how you can pray with us in the coming months. As always, we'd love to have you come and pray with us.

We pray daily:

6:30am - Matins (except on Fridays)

12:00pm - 1st, 3rd, 6th, or 9th Hour

4:45pm - Jesus Prayer and Vespers (5:15 on Sundays)

9:00pm - Compline (except on Saturdays & Sundays)

If you'd like to join us, we'd recommend calling ahead or sending us an email to confirm that the schedule is normal, as sometimes we need to adjust it. 

Our Divine Liturgy schedule can be found here. 

Save the Date for 2023: (Subject to change)

March 23: Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete

April 5: Bridegroom Matins

May 27: Spring Work Day

September 30: Fall Work Day

November 4: Bridegroom's Banquet

December 14-17: Discernment Retreat