Monastery of Gorgoepikoos (Geelong, Victoria)
Holy Monastery of Gorgoepikoos | |
Jurisdiction | GOA Aus |
Type | Female Monastery |
Founded | 1993 |
Superior | Abbess Kallistheni |
Approx. size | 5 nuns |
Location | Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
Liturgical language(s) | Greek, English |
Music used | Byzantine Chant |
Calendar | Revised Julian |
Feastdays celebrated | Jan 2 (Chapel) Oct 1 (Monastery) |
Official website | none advertised |
The Holy Monastery of Panagia Gorgoepikoos ("She who is Quick to Hear") is a monastic community for women under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. The monastery is located in Lovely Banks, Geelong, Victoria, and was established under the omophorion of His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia in May 1993 by Mother Kallistheni, who remains the abbess. Currently, the monastery has 4 nuns (Sisters Makrina, Nikodimi, and Natalia, and the abbess, Mother Kallistheni) and a novice, all of whom speak fluent English.
The monastery is situated approximately one hour, by car, from Melbourne and is close to the seaside suburb of Geelong. Initially the Monastery stood on 17 acres of land but recent land purchases have allowed for growth extending the property size to 20 acres. This growth has allowed the monastery to purchase bees to produce their own honey, a donkey and 2 alpacas.
To create privacy for the monastery, Cox Road, running outside the monastery, has recently been closed off—an initiative instigated by Mother Kallistheni.
Contents
History of the Monastery
Much of the initial capital for the Monastery was donated from the Zantis family of Goulburn. The majority of this donation was from Mother Kallistheni's father, Angelo Zantis (deceased), and Mother Kallistheni herself.
Mother Kallistheni
Mother Kallistheni, the first abbess of the monastery, was born Kalomira Zantis (nicknamed "Corrine") to Angelo and Nina Zantis, and raised in Goulburn, NSW, Australia with two siblings, Sheridan and Peter.
Her great-grandfather was the village priest and the schoolmaster in Karavas, in Kythera, Greece, for four decades. Known as 'Papa Vangelli', he was married to Presbytera Stamatia and baptised the majority of those Kytherians who then moved to Australia or the USA. Papa Vangelli had eight children, of whom Kalomira was the seventh; she married Sarandos Zantiotis and had four children, of whom Angelo was the fourth; he married Nina Souris, from Armidale, who are the parents of Mother Kallistheni.
Programme for members of the public
Pilgrims can visit the monastery daily (except Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) and are able to attend the services chanted by the sisters.
- Monday: Open between 2-5pm on School and Public holidays.
- Tuesday: Open between 9am and 5pm.
- 9am Divine Liturgy.
- Wednesday: Closed.
- Thursday: Open between 9am and 5pm.
- 3pm Vespers.
- Friday: Closed.
- Saturday: Open between 9am and 5pm.
- 3pm Paraklesis.
- Monthly: 8am Matins in Greek and English, 9am Divine Liturgy in English.
- Sunday: Open between 2-5pm.
- 3pm Paraklesis.
Source
External links
- Holy Monasteries in Victoria
- February issue of Orthodox Contact. The last article is of a visit the monasteries of St Anna and Gorgoepikoos.
- Holy Services in English: Programme for 2008
Orthodoxy in Australia: Monasteries |
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia |
Male: Pantanassa | St George | St John Female: Gorgoepikoos | Holy Cross |
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia |
Male: Holy Transfiguration | Archangel Michael Proph. Elias | St John the Baptist | Holy Trinity Female: Our Lady of Kazan | Presentation |
Other Jurisdictions |
Male: New Kalenic (Serbian) | St Sava (Serbian) Female: St Anna (Antiochian) | Nativity Skete (Serbian) |
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Categories > Spirituality > Asceticism
Categories > Spirituality > Asceticism