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→History: replaced "arrival here" with "acquisition of the monastery property" at the end of the section (more neutral tone).
When he heard this young man talk about his interest in pursuing the monastic life, Archim. Theodor asked him if he would be interested in helping him build a monastery. "The days when emperors, tsars, or kings will build monasteries for us are past," he said. "If we want a monastery, we shall have to build one ourselves." It was then, in 1970, that they made their holy vow that one day, by the grace of God, they would build a monastery together dedicated to the [[Cross|Holy Cross]].
It took the monks nine additional years to save enough money to buy property suitable for a monastery, and then, in 1979, with the blessing of their diocesan [[bishop]], they purchased a rural estate that would eventually be consecrated as Holy Cross Monastery. The monks themselves have performed most of the labor that has transfigured this rustic property into a frontier of Paradise. They have also stacked every stone in their retaining walls and planted the trees in the cloister precincts. The majestic redwood trees that tower behind their cross shrine were planted by the fathers themselves from one-gallon cans in 1980, during the first summer following their arrival hereacquisition of the monastery property.
== Visiting ==
