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type=Male Monastery|
founded=1976|
superior=Abbot [[Stefanos Stephanos (Pantanassiotis)|StefanosStephanos]]|
size=4 monks|
hq=Mangrove, New South Wales, Australia|
website=none advertised
}}
The '''Monastery of the Holy Mother of God "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, 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]] [[Stefanos Stephanos (Pantanassiotis)|StefanosStephanos]]; there are currently 2 [[hieromonk|priestmonk]]s (including the abbot), one monk and one [[novice]] in residence.
==Timeline==
*1976: Holy Monastery of the [[Transfiguration]] of our Lord established by [[Archbishop]] [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos]]. The Brotherhood lives in St Arsenios' [[metochion|House]], and worships at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery.
*1995: Monastery moved from Sydney, New South Wales, to Mangrove Mountain, New South Wales. Holy Transfiguration Monastery becomes a parish, and the brotherhood was given put under the patronage of the Mother of God "Pantanassa" by Archbishop Stylianos. The Pantanassa brotherhood commenced living in a small monastic complex on the side of the mountain below a 200m (approx. 680 ft) cliff.
*1995: The [[Monastery of the Holy Cross (Mangrove, Australia)|Monastery of the Holy Cross]], a female monastery, is established at St Arsenios' [[metochion|House]] with four nuns. Abbot Stefanos Stephanos is the chaplain.
*~2003: The Monastery of the Holy Cross moves to present location on Mangrove Mountain.
*2005 May 27: Pantanassa Monastery began excavation on the monastic site on top of the mountain. Archbishop Stylianos announces an Australia-wide fundrasing campaign.
*2005 Jul 16: The foundation stone of the new monastic church was laid at Pantanassa Monastery by Archbishop Stylianos, assisted by Bishop [[Seraphim (Ginis) of Apollonias|Seraphim]].
*2005 Aug: Driveway for new monastic complex finished.
*2006 Feb: Construction anticipated to begin on first phase.
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==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 construction excavation at this site, located 50 metres from cliff-face; in 2006, it is anticipated that construction will begin.
===Current Monastic Complex===
===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:
# 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 monksand the office.# Includes the iconography studioand guest accomodation.
:*Other structures include the office, the confessional, the library, guest accomodation, 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.
