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*[http://www.divineascent.org/ Divine Ascent Press]
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type=Male Monastery|
founded=1996|
superior=Archimandrite [[Meletios (Webber)|Meletios]]Vacant|size=~20 9 members|
hq=Manton, California|
language=English|
In 1996, the Community of the Holy Cross moved to Santa Rosa and were renamed as the Skete of Our Lady of Kazan. In October of that year, the Monastery of St. John, led by Fr. [[Jonah (Paffhausen) of Washington and New York|Jonah]], was established at St. Eugene's Hermitage, with two members of the brotherhood.
This brotherhood, like the sisterhood before it, also took hold and grew. In July 2004, Bishop [[Benjamin (Peterson) of San Francisco|Benjamin of Berkeley]] tonsures three members of the community to the small schema and one to the rassaphore. At this point, there are nine members of the community.
The brotherhood continued to steadily grow. By the middle of 2005, there were 12 members of the community, and the brotherhood decided that remaining at a hermitage - with an expected capacity of four - with a brotherhood of twelve was untenable, and began to look for a suitable property, hopefully in the Washington area.
However in May, 2006, the brotherhood entered into proceedings to purchase land in Manton, California, that was perfectly suited to the brotherhood's present and future needs; on June 26, the purchase was completed, and the brotherhood planned to move in by the end of July [http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_3846916]. The first [[Divine Liturgy]] on the site of the new property was celebrated on [[July 2]], on the feastday of St. John Maximovitch. As the monks moved to Manton, the brotherhood decided that St. Eugene's Hermitage would remain as a skete of the monastery, with Frs John and Silouan based there - the former to be more accessible, the latter in view of medical treatment. Fr. Silouan has since recovered and moved to the main monastery.
Since early 2007, the monastery has grown with the addition of two celibate priests, one both of whom was were made rassaphore during Lent of 2008stavrophores in April, 2012. There are were also a number of new novices, which has necessitated the beginning of a new phase of growth and expansion on the monastery property.
In January 2008, the brotherhood issued its first CD of music, recorded by its own choir and featuring American-influenced chant, entitled "The Eyes of All Look to Thee."
In September 2008, Abbot Jonah was elected as Bishop of Fort Worth, auxiliary to Abp. Dmitri of the South. In his stead, Archimandrite Meletios (Webber) was chosen to be the second abbot of St. John of San Francisco Monastery. Since thenDuring late summer 2012, Fr. [[Meletios (Webber)|Meletios Webber]] resigned as abbot of the Monastery of St. John and returned to Europe.[http://dowoca.orthodoxws.com/files/reports/Council%20Meeting%20Minutes/Diocesan-Council-Meeting-Oct-2--2012.pdf] Then, the brotherhood has continued to grow , at first, up to nearly 20 members. As of 2012, this fell to 15 members. During the months of June and July, 2012, under allegations of unorthodox teachings and unhealthy spiritual leadership, 6 members left the monastery and went to St. Herman's Monastery in Platina. There are currently 8 members in Manton: 6 stavrophores, 1 rasophores and 1 novice.
At the Monastery, Matins and Vespers are generally begun with 20 minutes of silent, communal prayer of the Jesus Prayer. For all changes and variations due to the Festal Cycle, please see the monastery's website, which posts a weekly and monthly schedule which are both revised frequently.
==How The Monks Support Themselves==
'''Online Bookstore'''
Their recently redesigned online bookstore can be accessed here: http://www.stjohnsbookstore.com/ '''Retreats & Lectures''' Information on their various retreats and lectures can be found here: http://monasteryofstjohnIt is currently closed.org/retreats.html
'''Music Recordings'''
Their CD entitled Eyes of All Look to Thee with Hope. Description from the CD: ''"The CD includes 24 selections from Matins, Divine Liturgy, and two paraliturgical pieces. It represents many of the different styles sung at the monastery, Valaam and Byzantine chant, as well as music specially composed to meet the needs of the community. It is our monastery's vision that a uniquely American chant will gradually develop, growing from the seeds of our inherited traditions. As they take root in American soil, this chant will become an organic hybrid of different influences from our own folk melodies and harmonies, rooted in the traditions of our ancestors and drawing from the springs of the memorable melodies of the Carpatho-Rus and the timeless and other-worldly modalities of western Gregorian chant and it counterpart, Byzantine chant."'' Their CD can be purchased on their online bookstore: http://www.stjohnsbookstore.com/node/1061
'''Candles'''
*[http://www.monasteryofstjohn.org/ Website of Monastery]
*[http://monasteryofstjohn.org/services.htm Services held at the Monastery]
*[http://oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=OCA-WE-PRSCHC Listing of Monastery on OCA website] (including a history)
