Difference between revisions of "Monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco (Manton, California)"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Bp. Benjamin did not take L.A. for his title. See: http://www.oca.org/HSepiscopacy.asp?SID=7#diocesan)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:monasteryofstjohn.gif|right|frame|Monastery of St. John of San Francisco]]'''St. John of San Francisco Monastery''' is a [[monastic]] community for men in the [[Diocese of the West (OCA)|Diocese of the West]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]], under Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco, Los Angeles and the West. It has recently moved to Manton, California.
+
[[Image:monasteryofstjohn.gif|right|frame|Monastery of St. John of San Francisco]]'''St. John of San Francisco Monastery''' is a [[monastic]] community for men in the [[Diocese of the West (OCA)|Diocese of the West]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]], under Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West. It has recently moved to Manton, California.
 
{{monastery|
 
{{monastery|
 
name=Monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco|
 
name=Monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco|

Revision as of 19:11, April 13, 2008

Monastery of St. John of San Francisco
St. John of San Francisco Monastery is a monastic community for men in the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America, under Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West. It has recently moved to Manton, California.
Monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco
Jurisdiction OCA West
Type Male Monastery
Founded 1996
Superior Abbot Jonah
Approx. size 17 members
Location Manton, California
Liturgical language(s) English
Music used Russian Chant; Valaam-style Znamenny Chant
Calendar Julian
Feastdays celebrated 19 June/2 July
Official website Official website


After the departure of the sisterhood of Our Lady of Kazan Skete from St. Eugene's Hermitage to their present location, Bishop Tikhon blessed the formation of a male monastic community in October 1996 with Abbot Jonah and one novice. They have continued to live in the hermitage since, although plans to move have been presented and funds asked for to this end.

The community consists of men living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. The community conducts retreats, lectures, maintains a small online store and publishes a journal entitled Divine Ascent. Currently the Monastery has two priestmonks, Abbot Jonah and Riasphore hieromonk Alexander (Lisenko) as well as six stavrophore (small schema) monks, one riasaphore monk, seven novices and one priest-novice.

In May 2006, the brotherhood was able to begin proceedings to purchase a property in Manton, California, that was perfectly suited to the brotherhood's needs and also allowing growth [1]; this was completed at the end of June, 2006.

History

In 1951, a property was donated to the Metropolia, and was called St. Eugene's Hermitage. Hmk Dimitry began to live on the property, living a monastic life and attempting to build a monastic community. This was unsuccessful, and in 1968 Hieromonk Dimitry was removed from the hermitage and assigned to parish ministry.

After this, many other attempts were made at a new monastic community, none of which came to fruition. In 1980, work began on a new chapel at the hermitage, and in 1983 the Community of the Holy Cross, led by Mother Barbara, began to reside at St. Eugene's Hermitage. The chapel was finished in 1988, was consecrated in the same year, and placed under the patronage of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

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, 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 of Berkeley tonsures three members of the community to the small schema and one to the riasaphore. At this point, there are nine members of the community.

The brotherhood continued to slowly and 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 [2]. 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 of whom was made riasaphore during Lent of 2008. There are 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."

Daily Life

Weekdays

  • 6am - Matins.
On Tuesday and Thursday, a Divine Liturgy follows.
  • 5pm - Molieben to St. John, Vespers and Compline.
Dinner

Weekends

  • 8am - Matins and Divine Liturgy
  • Saturday 5pm - Great Vespers.
  • Sunday 5pm - Vespers.

Lenten Schedule

  • Monday: On Mondays the monks pray in their cells and keep morning silence.
5:00pm: Vespers
  • Tuesday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
5:00pm - Ninth Hour and Vespers
After supper - Compline
  • Wednesday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
4:00pm - Ninth Hour, Typika and Presanctified Liturgy.
After supper - Compline
  • Thursday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
5:00pm - Ninth Hour and Vespers
  • Friday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
4:00pm - Ninth Hour, Typika and Presanctified Liturgy.
After supper - Compline with Akathist Hymn to Mother of God
  • Saturday: 8:00am - Matins and Divine Liturgy
5:00pm - Great Vespers
After supper - Compline
  • Sunday: 8:00am - Matins and Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great.
5:00pm - Vespers

Usually Matins and Vespers are begun with 25 minutes of silent Jesus Prayer communally. 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.

External links