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What was planned to be a temporary site at Mangrove CreekOn July 16, after numerous administrative setbacks2005, eventually became more permanentthe foundation stone of the main church ('katholikon') was laid by Archbishop Stylianos, with an iconography studio, extra cells and storeroom built near the original complexassisted by Bishop [[Seraphim (Ginis) of Apollonias|Seraphim]]. HoweverSoon after, the brotherhood never forgot that it driveway for the new monastic complex was only supposed to be temporary; finallyfinished, on May 27, 2005, having obtained local government permission, Pantanassa Monastery began excavation on making possible the construction of the monastic site on top new complex. The first phase of Mangrove Mountain, this construction - the church and Archbishop Stylianos announced an Australiafirst part of the living quarters -wide fundraising campaignwas begun in February 2006. Construction continues and will continue for the foreseeable future.
On July 16Around 2011, 2005Elder Stephanos retired as abbot of the monastery, while remaining at the foundation stone of the main church ('katholikon') was laid by Archbishop Stylianosmonastery; Hmk Eusebios succeeded him, assisted being elevated to Archimandrite on [[September 14]] by Bishop Bp [[Seraphim Iakovos (GinisTsigounis) of Apollonias|SeraphimMilitoupolis]] and subsequently enthroned as Abbot on [[September 17]]. Soon after, the driveway for the new monastic complex was finished, making possible the construction of the new complex. The first phase of this construction - the church and first part of the living quarters - was begun in February 2006. Construction continues and will continue through much of 20062011.{{orthodoxyinaustralia}}<!--==Recent events==-->
link
type=Male Monastery|
founded=1976|
superior=Abbot [[Stephanos Eusebios (Pantanassiotis)|StephanosEusebios]]|size=4 5 monks|
hq=Mangrove, New South Wales, Australia|
language=Greek|
calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]]|
feasts=[[November 10|Nov 10]] (Metochion)<br>Bright Saturday (Monastery)|
website=none advertised[http://www.pantanassa.org.au Official Website]
}}
The '''Monastery of the Holy Mother of God [[Panagia Pantanassa|"Pantanassa"]]''' (Queen of All) is a [[monasticism|monastic]] community for [[monk|men]] under the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]]. The monastery is located in Mangrove Creek and Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales (west of Sydney), and was established in 1976 under the [[omophorion]] of His Eminence [[Archbishop]] [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos of Australia]]. The current [[abbot]] is [[Archimandrite]] [[Stephanos Eusebios (Pantanassiotis)|StephanosEusebios]]; there are currently 2 [[hieromonk|priestmonk]]s (including the abbot) and two three monks in residence.
==History==
In 1976, shortly after the beginning of Archbishop [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos]]' tenure, the Archbishop established establishes the Holy Monastery of the [[Transfiguration]] of our Lord, with [[Archimandrite]] [[Stephanos (Pantanassiotis)]] being the [[abbot]] and residing at St Arsenios [[metochion|House]]. Fr Stephanos resigns from Vicar-General and devotes himself to the monastery, where he is widely sought out for confession; however, even though the monastery is situated in Earlwood, Sydney, it is a principle of the monastery that no weddings or baptisms are conductedcelebrated there.
[[Image:Logo of Pantanassa Monastery.jpg|left|thumb|"Holy Archdiocese of Australia<br>Holy Monastery Mother of God the Queen of All"]]
1995 turned out to be a busy year. In the early 1990s, Fr Stephanos has a number of women who wished to pursue the monastic life; these women were, eventually, sent to a monastery in Greece. However, the desire to lead the monastic life in Australia was, after a few years, accepted by Fr Stephanos, and so these four nuns made up the first sisters of the [[Monastery of the Holy Cross (Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales)|Monastery of the Holy Cross]], who began residence at St Arsenios House with Fr Stephanos as the spiritual father. In 2003, Holy Cross Monastery moves to Mangrove Mountain, 5km from Pantanassa Monastery, and St Arsenios becomes the Sydney metochion for Pantanassa Monastery.
{{orthodoxyinaustralia}}
What was planned to be a temporary site at Mangrove Creek, after numerous administrative setbacks, eventually became more permanent, with an iconography studio, extra cells and storeroom built near the original complex. However, the brotherhood never forgot that it was only supposed to be temporary; finally, on May 27, 2005, having obtained local government permission, Pantanassa Monastery began excavation on the monastic site on top of Mangrove Mountain, and Archbishop Stylianos announced an Australia-wide fundraising campaign.
==Monastic Complex==
===Current Monastic Complex===
Currently the Brotherhood lives, works and prays at a small monastic complex on the side of Mangrove Mountain, below a 200 metre cliff, where there is a small chapel dedicated to Sts [[Ephrem the Syrian|Ephraim]] and [[Isaac the Syrian|Isaac]] the Syrians, living quarters sufficient for the monks, an iconography studio (the primary source of income), a [[candle]]-making factory, St. Joseph's joinery workshop. Other structures from the complex include a secluded cabin named after [[Elder]] [[Paisios (Eznepidis)|Paisios the Athonite]] (+1994), a set of beehives, a timber cabin used for confessional and bookshop, an outdoor chapel with a 6 metre timber [[crucifix]] used during the [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarch]]'s 1996 visit, and a cave dedicated to St. [[Joachim and Anna|Anna]]. There are also numerous dams on the property for water, the largest dam being adjacent to St. [[Patrick of Ireland|Patrick]]'s fields.
[[Image:pantanassaicon.jpg|left|thumb|Icon of the Mother of God "Pantanassa"]]
The new monastic complex is designed to have the layout and aesthetics of a traditional [[Mount Athos|Athonite]] monastery by having the main church in the middle of a cloistered quadrangle. This formation is intended to have a fortress effect, by appearing solid and uninviting to outsiders, its few openings giving little opportunity for interaction; whereas to those welcomed into the complex, having a softer style of architecture and opening with a continuous arched cloister and details reminiscent of Athonite structures.
==Bibliography and external links==
*Pantanassa Monastery, "The Building of a Monastery", in <i>[http://www.tovema.com.au The Greek Australian VEMA]</i>, June 2005, page 12/30.
*[http://homewww.itgreekorthodox.comnet.au/~jgrapsas/pages/Pantanassa.htm Holy Monastery of PantanassaAppeal Site] (monastery appeal site) ==External links==*[http://homewww.itpantanassa.comorg.au/~jgrapsas/Ikons/model.jpg Model of Monastery (after construction)Official Website]
{{AustralianMonasteries}}
[[Category:Orthodoxy in Australia]]
[[Category:Australian Monasteries|Pantanassa]][[Category:Greek Monasteries|Pantanassa]][[Category:Monasteries|Pantanassa]]
