Monastery of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco (Manton, California)
St John of Shanghai Monastery is a monastic community for men in the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America, under Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco, Los Angeles and the West. It is located in Point Reyes Station, California.
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 one priestmonk, Abbot Jonah, as well as three stavrophore (small schema) monks, three riasaphore monks and five novices.
St. John of Shanghai Monastery | |
Jurisdiction | OCA West |
Type | Male Monastery |
Founded | 1996 |
Superior | Abbot Jonah |
Approx. size | 12 monks |
Location | Point Reyes Station, California |
Liturgical language(s) | English |
Music used | Russian Chant |
Calendar | Revised Julian |
Feastdays celebrated | {{{feasts}}} |
Official website | Official website |
Daily Life
Weekdays
6am - Matins.
- On Tuesday and Thursday, a Divine Liturgy follows.
5pm - Molieben to St. John, Vespers.
- Dinner
- Compline
Weekends
8am - Matins and Divine Liturgy Saturday 5pm - Molieben and Vespers. Sunday 5pm - Vespers.
Lenten Schedule
Monday: 7:30am - Morning Prayers
- 5:00pm: Vespers
Tuesday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
- Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
- 5:00pm - Molieben and Vespers
- After supper - Compline
Wednesday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
- Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
- 5:00pm - Molieben and Vespers, followed by Presanctified Liturgy.
- After supper - Compline
Thursday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
- Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
- 5:00pm - Molieben and Vespers
- After supper - Choir Practise
Friday: 6:00am - Matins and First Hour
- Noon - Third Hour, Sixth Hour, Readings from The Ladder
- 5:00pm - Molieben and Vespers, followed by Presanctified Liturgy.
- After supper - Compline
Saturday: 8:00am - Matins, First Hour and Divine Liturgy
- 5:00pm - Molieben and Great Vespers
- After supper - Compline
Sunday: 8:00am - Matins and Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great.
- 5:00pm - Vespers
Timeline
- 1951 - St Eugene's Hermitage site donated to Metropolia. Hmk Dimitry begins living on property, living a monastic life and attempting to build a monastic community.
- 1968 - Hmk Dimitry removed from hermitage to parish ministry.
- Many attempts were made during this time at a new monastic community, all failed.
- 1980 - Work began on new chapel at hermitage.
- 1983 - Community of Holy Cross, led by Mother Barbara, begins residence at St Eugene's.
- 1988 - Chapel finished. Consecrated under patronage of St Sergius of Radonezh.
- 1996 - Community of Holy Cross moves to Santa Rosa, now called Skete of Our Lady of Kazan.
- Oct - Monastery of St John, led by Fr Jonah, established at St Eugene's Hermitage. There are two members of the community at this stage.
- 2004 Jul - Bishop Benjamin tonsures four members of community (three to small schema, one to riasaphore). There are nine members of the community at this stage.
- 2005 midyear - Currently, there 12 members of the community.
External links
- Website of Monastery
- Listing of Monastery on OCA website (including history)