Monasteries in California

[David Naess]

I went to Buffalo a week or two ago to hear Fr. Tom Hopko.

I ended up sitting next to him at breakfast. I was telling others how I came to Orthodoxy and about how I felt a monastic call.

Father Tom simply said:
"There is a monastery in California that you should go to."

Based on my previous posts to this board, does anybody have any clues about which one he might be talking about?

I notice in his book: "The Orthodox Faith - Vol 2 - Worship" (p. 57)
He says:
"some monasteries may be more liturgically oriented, while others may be more ascetic, while still others may have a certain mystical tradition, and others be more inclined to spiritual guidence and openness to the world for the purpose of care and counseling."

[Justin Farr]

Wow, that must have been a great experience! :)

California has the most monasteries than any other US state (except for NY, I believe)! :P He could have been talking about any number of them! http://www.orthodox-monasteries.com/us/

He may have been talking about St. Herman of Alaska monastery. They have no electricity and such, and I hear the monastery is amazing. :)

[David Naess]

Howdy Justin!

I was looking into St. Isaacs in Wisconsin until I discovered that they also have no electricity. Electricity is necessary for my CPAP machine.

Based on my 20/20 hindsite, before I discovered Orthodoxy, the one term that I used to discribe myself more often than any other was "a Christian mystic."

[Paul Cowan]

Yes monasteries are wonderful places to visit, but be careful with the website you offered Justin. These are NOT all Orthodox monasteries. One in particular in Texas was shut down for their indescretions. Their teachings and practises are NOT all in communion with the EO Church. Herman has a more secure listing (http://omna.malf.net/)for us to choose from.

The one referenced in Houston where I live, I have never even heard of. It is RC and appears more to be a retreat House than a Monastery. Where they are located, I cannot imagine any solitude as they are just south of a major international airport and right in the middle of the "worst" part of town. Gun fights in the streets still occur in Texas. Many of them outside the doors of this facility.

Paul

[Justin Farr]

Thank you, Paul! :) I will begin to use the one you linked instead! :)

Most monasteries in the US that I am aware of have electricity, running water, and such.

[Paul Cowan]

Most monasteries in the US that I am aware of have electricity, running water, and such.

Yes, a sign of the times I am afraid. It might also have something to do with building codes enforced upon us by the government when building anything. Even the Holy Monasteries on Mount Athos have the same though I am sure for different reasons. I am sure there is a fine line between practising the ancient faith and living as one were still in the ancient world. Having modern conveniences even if minimally should not hinder us from True worship. I can see carrying water 2 miles up hill everyday to be a practise in obedience, but I don't see it as necessarily needed to wash my hands before cooking dinner.

There was the story of the young monk told by his superior to go stick a dead stick in the sand of the deep desert and every day carry a bucket of water to it for 3 years. After 3 years it sprouted. What did this teach? Was it to show the fruits of obedience? Or to perform a miracle? I am sure the young monk on more than one occassion thought to himself "why do I have to carry this heavy bucket into the deep desert to water a dead stick?" The fruits of obedience are many. Perhaps the miracle was to answer his question?

Paul

[Monk Michael]

Dear David,

Christ is among us!

I just signed up for the monachos discussion community and noticed your post of last month about monasteries in California. It is also possible that Fr. Tom was thinking of the Monastery of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, in Manton, CA (formerly at Point Reyes), a sizeable and growing Brotherhood. Their website is:

www.monasteryofstjohn.org/ (http://www.monasteryofstjohn.org/)

With prayers for a blessed continuation of the Fast and a joyous Pascha, I am,

Yours in Christ,

Rasophore Monk Michael


I went to Buffalo a week or two ago to hear Fr. Tom Hopko.

I ended up sitting next to him at breakfast. I was telling others how I came to Orthodoxy and about how I felt a monastic call.

Father Tom simply said:
"There is a monastery in California that you should go to."

Based on my previous posts to this board, does anybody have any clues about which one he might be talking about?

I notice in his book: "The Orthodox Faith - Vol 2 - Worship" (p. 57)
He says:
"some monasteries may be more liturgically oriented, while others may be more ascetic, while still others may have a certain mystical tradition, and others be more inclined to spiritual guidence and openness to the world for the purpose of care and counseling."

[Georgianne Olson]

I am searching for a woman's monastery in California. I have been Orthodox for 20 years and am currently 62 years of age - but very young at heart and hoping to spend the rest of my life in a dedicated life to Jesus Christ in the Orthodox faith. Can anyone suggest some monasteries to visit as I plan to make a pilgrimage asap. Thanks so much. Georgianne (Emily) Olson

[Cyprian (Humphrey)]

Saint Barbara's Monastery in Santa Paula California has a good reputation. I've heard nothing bad about them.

http://www.stbarbaramonastery.org/visit-us

[Michael Stickles]

I cannot claim to know anything about these beyond location and jurisdiction, but here are the women's monasteries in CA that I've found (links are to either the monastery website or another page which has some contact information):

OCA:
St. Barbara Monastery (http://www.stbarbaramonastery.org/) (Santa Paula, CA)
Holy Assumption Monastery (http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=oca-we-calham) (Calistoga, CA)
Our Lady of Kazan Skete (http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=oca-we-stshvk) (Santa Rosa, CA)

GOARCH:
Holy Convent of the Theotokos (http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/monasteries) (Dunlap, CA)

SERBIAN:
St. Xenia Skete (http://www.westsrbdio.org/list/) (Wildwood, CA; sister monastery of St. Herman's in Platina)
I couldn't find out if the Holy Resurrection Skete (http://www.westsrbdio.org/list/) (Fallbrook, CA) is a men's or women's monastery.

The closest ones I know of outside CA are St. Paisus Monastery (http://www.stpaisiusmonastery.org/monastery.htm) in Safford, AZ (Serbian) and the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner (http://www.stjohnmonastery.org/) in Goldendale, WA (GOARCH; one of the monasteries started by Elder Ephraim).

[Kusanagi]

It is worth going to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God monastery.
Can email them here for more details: http://blagochestie.org/

[Father David Moser]

It is worth going to the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God monastery.
Can email them here for more details: http://blagochestie.org/

Probably this is not the best choice since this convent has been in schism from the Russian Church for many years now.

Fr David Moser

[Barbara Ried Johnson]

Mr. Susanna and sisters at Our Lady of Kazan in Santa Rosa have a good reputation. A friend of mine spent 6 months there last year testing a vocation. It is situated in a suburb not the country. It depends on how important environment is to one. The person who left Santa Rosa did so because she wanted a deep country environment. My friend is welcome to return to Santa Rosa at any time. That says something very good about that monastery!:)

[Owen]

I can quite agree with that. I'm in a Greek Orthodox parish, and several months ago, one of our parishioners, after doing some considerable sampling, left us to join Holy Assumption Monastery (OCA) in Calistoga, where the personal fit as well as the geographic suits her well.

[Georgianne Olson]

Thanks to all you helped answer my question about monasticism in California. I appreciate it so much to know there are caring and alert Orthodox Chrisitans out in the world. I am anxious to pursue all of your suggestions. My life as a single Orthodox woman has been very difficult, but yet joyful in my faith (when I don't become "overwhelmed") I am truly seeking a community or other women and men or an Orthodox Convent of women to fulfill my life in Christ. I find the life in the world becoming more and more meaningless and depressing. I hope to put aside my fears and worries of economic insecurities (in order to take time to visit places) and follow the Will of God and allow The Lord to direct me.
If anyone has any furture ideas about communities and or convents, please add on to those suggested. I know there are also good convents in NY. Thank you againl.

[Nektarios]

I cannot claim to know anything about these beyond location and jurisdiction, but here are the women's monasteries in CA that I've found (links are to either the monastery website or another page which has some contact information):

OCA:
St. Barbara Monastery (http://www.stbarbaramonastery.org/) (Santa Paula, CA)
Holy Assumption Monastery (http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=oca-we-calham) (Calistoga, CA)
Our Lady of Kazan Skete (http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=oca-we-stshvk) (Santa Rosa, CA)

GOARCH:
Holy Convent of the Theotokos (http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/monasteries) (Dunlap, CA)

SERBIAN:
St. Xenia Skete (http://www.westsrbdio.org/list/) (Wildwood, CA; sister monastery of St. Herman's in Platina)
I couldn't find out if the Holy Resurrection Skete (http://www.westsrbdio.org/list/) (Fallbrook, CA) is a men's or women's monastery.

The closest ones I know of outside CA are St. Paisus Monastery (http://www.stpaisiusmonastery.org/monastery.htm) in Safford, AZ (Serbian) and the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner (http://www.stjohnmonastery.org/) in Goldendale, WA (GOARCH; one of the monasteries started by Elder Ephraim).

Holy Resurrection Skete in Fallbrook, CA doesn't exist any more. I just asked my priest about this yesterday by chance. That Skete was one monk that lived in a house by himself, who left the Diocese and went to some other jurisdiction. I wanted to visit this skete since I live only like 20 minutes away but it is no longer in existance.

In Christ
Nektarios