Changes

name=Monastery of the Holy Monastery Mother of God "Pantanassa"|jurisdiction=[[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia|GOA Aus]]|

superior=Abbot [[Stefanos Eusebios (Pantanassiotis)|StefanosEusebios]]|size=4 5 monks|

feasts=[[November 10|Nov 10]] (Metochion)<br>Bright Saturday (Monastery)|website=none advertised[http://www.pantanassa.org.au Official Website]

The '''Holy Monastery ==History==In 1976, shortly after the beginning of Pantanassa''' Archbishop [[Stylianos (Queen Harkianakis) of All) is a [[monasticismAustralia|monasticStylianos]] community for men under ' tenure, the Archbishop establishes the Holy Monastery of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaTransfiguration]]. The monastery is located in Mangrove, New South Wales (west of Sydney)our Lord, and was established in 1976 under the with [[omophorionArchimandrite]] of His Eminence Archbishop [[Stylianos Stephanos (HarkianakisPantanassiotis) of Australia|Stylianos of Australia]]. The current being the [[abbot]] is Archimandrite and residing at St Arsenios [[Stefanos (Pantanassiotis)metochion|StefanosHouse]]. Fr Stephanos resigns from Vicar-General and devotes himself to the monastery, where he is widely sought out for confession; there are currently 2 [[hieromonk]]s (including however, even though the abbot)monastery is situated in Earlwood, one monk and one novice in residenceSydney, along with six hieromonks who are serving in parishes across Australia but are associated with it is a principle of the monasterythat no weddings or baptisms are celebrated there.

==Timeline==*1976[[Image: Logo of Pantanassa Monastery.jpg|left|thumb|"Holy Archdiocese of Australia<br>Holy Monastery Mother of God the [[Transfiguration]] Queen of our Lord established by [[ArchbishopAll"]] [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos]]. The Brotherhood lives in St Arsenios' HouseIn the early 1990s, and worships at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery.*1995: Monastery moved from Sydney, New South Wales, to Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales. Holy Transfiguration Monastery changes to being a parishmonastery has its first novices, and Fr Stephanos decides that an inner-city hermitage was no longer the monastery was renamed Pantanassa Monastery by Archbishop Stylianosan ideal situation. The Pantanassa brotherhood commenced living in Building begins at Mangrove Mountain at a small monastic complex temporary site on the side of the mountain , below a 200m (approx. 680 ft680ft) cliff.*1995: The [[Monastery of ; it was anticipated that, once the Holy Cross (Mangrovetemporary site was complete, Australia)|Monastery construction would begin at permanent site on top of the Holy Cross]]mountain. In 1995, a female monastery under the guidance of Pantanassa Monasterytemporary site was complete, is established at St Arsenios' [[metochion|House]] with three nuns. Abbot Stefanos is and the chaplain.*200x: The Monastery of the Holy Cross moves brotherhood moved from Sydney to present location on Lower Mangrove MountainCreek.*2005 May 27: Pantanassa This caused Holy Transfiguration Monastery began excavation on to revert to a parish, and Archbishop Stylianos placed the brotherhood under the monastic site on top patronage of the mountain. Archbishop Stylianos announces an Australia-wide fundrasing campaign.*2005 Jul 16: The foundation stone Mother of the new monastic church was laid at God "Pantanassa Monastery " ("Queen of All": formed by Archbishop Stylianostwo Greek words - Πάντα meaning All, assisted by Bishop [[Seraphim (GinisΆνασσα meaning Queen) of Apollonias|Seraphim]].

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.{{orthodoxyinaustralasiaorthodoxyinaustralia}}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.

==Current Structures==*"The Pantanassa brotherhood lives in a small monastic comples situated on On July 16, 2005, the side foundation stone of a mountain below a 200 metre cliff".**Small chapel dedicated to Sts Ephraim and Isaac the Syrians**Iconography studio**Living quarters**Candle making factory**Joinery workshop dedicated to St Joseph**Secluded cabin named after main church ('katholikon') was laid by Archbishop Stylianos, assisted by Bishop [[ElderSeraphim (Ginis) of Apollonias|Seraphim]] [[Paisios . Soon after, the driveway for the new monastic complex was finished, making possible the Athonite]] (+1994)*Situated at construction of the lower end new complex. The first phase of this construction - the valley church and along first part of the river isliving quarters - was begun in February 2006...**Timber cabin where pilgrims are received Construction continues and will continue for confession**Cave dedicated to St Anne**Outdoor chapel under a rainforest canopy, with a 6 metre timber crucifix.<font size="1">Reference: The Vema, 2005:12/30</font>the foreseeable future.

==Building Works==27 May 2005Around 2011, building works started on the new monastic complex site on top of the mountain. This included...*Excavating the mountain so Elder Stephanos retired as to provide three flat levels for buildings to go on.**These earth works were completed in time for the foundation stone ceremony abbot of 16 July, 2005.*Building a 400 metre (1350 ft) driveway through forest to the building site (which ends 50 metres from the cliff edge)**The driveway was completed in Augustmonastery, 2005.*First stage of construction includes the new chapel and the first section of the living quarters, sufficient for the present number of monks.*Second stage includes the remainder of the living quarters for the monks.*Third stage includes the iconography studio.*Opposite the entrance of the Church, and adjacent to the main entry of while remaining at the monastery; Hmk Eusebios succeeded him, is the refectory. Other parts of the complex include the library, office, confessional and guest accomodation.*The new monastic complex is designed being elevated to have the layout and aesthetics of a traditional Archimandrite on [[Mount Athos|AthoniteSeptember 14]] monastery: the main church in the middle by Bp [[Iakovos (Tsigounis) of a cloistered quadrangle.**This formation is intended to have a fortress effect. "To outsiders it appears solid Militoupolis]] and uninvitingsubsequently enthroned as Abbot on [[September 17]], with few openings and little opportunity for interaction2011. However, for those welcomed into the complex the architecture softens and opens up with a continuous arched cloister and details reminiscent of the Athonite language." (The Vema, 2005:12/30)

==Monastic Complex==After moving to become the Pantanassa Monastery in 1995, the Brotherhood built a small site to live in until they built the complex that would be the monastery. In 2005, the Brotherhood, after numerous difficulties, began excavation at this site, located 50 metres from cliff-face; in 2006, construction began and is scheduled to continue through much of the year. ===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"]] ===New Monastic Complex===Building works started on the new monastic complex site at the top of the mountain on 27 May 2005. The preparatory works began with excavating the mountain to provide three flat levels for buildings to go on, which were completed by the July 2005 foundation ceremony. During further excavation, a 400 metre (~1350 ft) driveway through forest to the building site was constructed and completed in August 2005. There are three stages involved in the construction of the new monastic complex:# Currently being completed; includes the new chapel and the first section of the living quarters, sufficient for the present number of monks. # Includes the remainder of the living quarters for the monks and the office.# Includes the iconography studio and guest accomodation. :*Other structures include the confessional, the library and the refectory (opp. entrance of church, adj. to main entry). 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 Links==

*[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] 

[[Category:Australian Monasteries|Pantanassa]][[Category:Greek Monasteries|Pantanassa]][[Category:Monasteries|Pantanassa]]