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''E-mail:'' cybermonk@holycrossmonastery.org — ''Web:'' http://www.holycrossmonastery.org

The [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Church] traces its history back to the original Church founded by [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Jesus Christ]. It is the Church of the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostles apostles,]of the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Martyr martyrs,] and of the early Christians. [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodoxy ''Orthodoxia''] is a Greek word meaning "correct praise" or "correct teaching" and the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Church] considers itself to be the bearer of [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Tradition ancient Christian Tradition.]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism Monasticism] itself arose out of this spiritual fervor and devotion of the early [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Christian Church]. The [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monastic life] has always been an honored path for men and women to "deny themselves, take up their cross" and follow the Lord by devoting their lives to Him and becoming [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monks monks or nuns.] (cf. [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospel_of_Matthew Matthew] 16:24). Taking vows of personal poverty, chastity, obedience and stability, they seek spiritual perfection by leading lives pleasing to Christ. In their imperfect way, they strive to serve him with a three-fold service of prayer, work and study. (For more on the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Scripture scriptural] origins of [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monasticism,] see [http://www.holycrossmonastery.org/articles/followme.htm Come, Follow Me.])

[http://www.holycrossmonastery.org Holy Cross Monastery] began with its [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Abbot Abbot], [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite Archimandrite] Theodor. He always dreamed of founding a [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monastery] one day for the greater glory of God. In 1965, while he was very young and after he had been [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Ordain ordained] as a [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Priest priest] for just one year, his devout mother suddenly and unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord. He was an only son and his mother left her inheritance to him; since she knew of his holy intention to build a [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monastery] one day.

[http://www.holycrossmonastery.org Holy Cross Monastery] thrives by the grace of God and through the hard work and professional employment of its [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monks monks.] Although friends and supporters have given and continue to give donations to help further the Fathers' holy work, the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monastery] is self-supporting. The [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monks monks] have never sent out appeals for donations and have never even passed a collection plate in their [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monastery] chapel. Whatever friends, supporters, and visitors have ever given of their own free will has been gratefully and humbly accepted and used for the greater glory of God by the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monks monks.]

The Fathers do their utmost to make every visitor feel that their monastic dwelling is a spiritual home to anyone who comes to them for spiritual nourishment. [http://www.holycrossmonastery.org Holy Cross Monastery] exists as a haven of spiritual tranquility, tolerance, and kindness—not only for the local owls, deer, foxes, and raccoons—but for all who come to partake of the monastery's peace and befriend the Fathers. The beauty and harmony of the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism monastery] and its environs speak for themselves and speak to the soul and heart of anyone who loves God, humankind, and nature.

The [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Lord] said: "Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head" ([http://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospel_of_Matthew Matthew] 8:20). In this tumultuous and tempestuous world, [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ the Lord] has few places in which to lay His holy head. [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism Monasteries] provide the Lord with sanctuaries of calm and quietude, where He can rest His holy head and where those who seek Him and love Him can embrace Him. One can sense that God resides and dwells among the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monks monks] at [http://www.holycrossmonastery.org Holy Cross Monastery,] where the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monks monks] strive and struggle in their imperfect way to serve His every need.

If after reading [http://www.holycrossmonastery.org/articles/followme.htm Come, Follow Me,] you believe that you also may be called to explore giving your life entirely to God in [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism holy monasticism,] please contact the Fathers of the monastery at cybermonk@holycrossmonastery.org