Hermitage of the Holy Cross (Wayne, West Virginia)

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Holy Cross Skete
Jurisdiction ROCOR
Type Male Monastery
Founded 1986
Superior Archim. Seraphim (Voepel)
Approx. size 19
Location Wayne, West Virginia
Liturgical language(s) English
Music used Russian Chant
Calendar Julian
Feastdays celebrated 14/27 Sep
Official website Official Website

The Hermitage of the Holy Cross is a monastic community for men under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. It is located in Wayne, West Virginia.

The community was founded in September 1986 by Hieromonk Kallistos (Pazalos) as an English-language dependency on Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville.

The community consists of men living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. To support the community the monks, by hand, write icons and make soap, incense, icon shelves, prayer desks and other liturgical items. It presently holds 19 monks, most of whom are converts.

Brief History

Holy Cross Hermitage was founded in September 1986 by Hieromonk Kallistos (Pazalos) in House Springs, Missouri. In 1992 Hieromonk Kallistos reposed.

In 1999, brotherhood had doubled in size since founding, filling all cells of the monastery. At the time the monastery could not expand due to surrounding city development. In the summer of same year the continued growth of the surrounding city solved its own problem for the monastery, as the civil authorities required the building of a major highway through the monastery. An alternate piece of land in West Virginia was offered to the community.

On May 25, 2000, the monastery moved to Wayne, West Virginia.

In 2005, hegumen George, spiritual father of hermitage, elevated to the dignity of archimandrite. On December 7, 2008, Archimandrite George was consecrated Bishop of Mayfield with his see at Mayfield.

In May 2009, the Hermitage received its independence from Holy Trinity Monastery, and Bishop George was elected abbot of the Hermitage.

In 2011, Hermitage of the Holy Cross celebrated its 25th anniversary.

In 2015, Bp George was elected Bishop of Canberra (in ROCOR's Diocese of Australia and New Zealand. Fr Seraphim was elected Abbot, which he undertook in Bright Week, just before Bp George left for Australia. In August that year, Hmk Alexander, Dean of the Hermitage, was elevated to the priestly rank of Igumen [1] and appointed Vice Abbot [2].

Daily Life

Weekday Schedule

  • 5:00 am - Midnight Office, Veneration of Icons, Hours, & Liturgy (or Typica)
  • 7:30 am - Optional Buffet Breakfast in silence, quiet time for prayer rule & spiritual reading
  • 8:30 am - Morning Work Period
  • 12:00 pm - Lunch
  • 1:30 am - Afternoon Work Period
  • 5:00 pm - Supper
  • 5:30 pm - Vespers, Matins, 1st Hour, & Veneration of Icons
  • 9:00 pm - Silence

Sunday & Vigil-rank Feast Schedule

Evening before

  • 5:00 pm - Supper
  • 6:30 pm - Vigil

Sunday or Feast Day

  • 9:00 am - Hours & Liturgy with meal following
  • 5:00 pm - Supper
  • 5:30 pm - Vespers, Matins, 1st Hour, & Veneration of Icons
  • 9:00 pm - Silence

External links

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