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type=Male Stavropegic Double Monastery|

superior=Elder KyrillosArchimandrite Petros|size=25 24 monastics (at 1993)|hq=Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England|language=ManyEnglish, with French & Greek|

}}[[Image:Main_church.JPG|thumb|The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist]]The '''Patriarchal [[Stavropegic ]] Monastery of St John the Baptist''' is a [[monastic]] community for both men and women, directly under the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. It is located in Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England.The community was founded in 1959 by Elder [[Sophrony (Sakharov)]], under the [[jurisdiction]] of His Eminence Metropolitan [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh|Anthony]], Metropolitan of [[Diocese of Sourozh|Sourozh]] and ruling [[Church of Russia|Russian]] [[bishop]] in England, with six monastics from a number of nations; soon after, in 1965, the Monastery moved under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. [[Image:Saints_mosaic.JPG|thumb|Saints Mosaic]]

The community was founded in 1959 by Elder [[Sophrony (Sakharov)]], under the jurisdiction of His Eminence Metropolitan [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh|Anthony]], Metropolitan of Sourozh and ruling Russian bishop in England, with six monastics from a number of nations; soon after, in 1965, the Monastery moved under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The community consists of men and women living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. There are two aspects to this monastery which make it unique: firstlyCurrently, the focus on the communal repetition majority of the [[Jesus Prayer]]community are nuns (~15-20), which can be as much as four hours with a daysmaller number of monks. This accomodates Since 2019, the wide variety abbot of nationalities and languages in the Monastery, some of whom would necessarily be excluded by services in any one language. The second aspect is that it is a monastery of both monks and nuns, something rare Archimandrite Petros (but not unheard ofVryzas) in Orthodox monasticism.

<!--==Daily Lifelife==5am - Matins When founding the [[monastery]], Elder Sophrony wanted to be sure that his community would not just have outward conformity, but have its focus on inner [[asceticism]]. The [[typikon]] of the monastery, consisting of repetition of the [[Jesus Prayer]] for approximately 4 hours per day and First Hour.:Breakfast[[Divine Liturgy]] three or four times per week, found inspiration in Elder Sophrony's experience in the Athonite desert, choresand precedent in Athonite skete practise, quiet timeSt. [[Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain|Nicodemus]] and St. [[Paisius Velichkovsky]].9am - Third Hour.:House meetingAlso, another distinctive part of this monastery is that it is a double monastery; that is, work timethe community has both [[monks]] and [[nuns]].Noon - Sixth Hour.:Lunch This is rare, workbut is not unheard of, personal timein Orthodox monasticism.3pm - Ninth Hour==History==The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist had its beginnings largely in the person of Elder Sophrony.:Work time After his departure from [[Mount Athos|Mt.5pm Athos]] and his subsequent move to Paris, he was to live in a Russian old- Vespersage home, assisting the [[priest]].:Supper Soon, two men would seek out Elder Sophrony, desiring the monastic life.7pm They were allowed to live at the old-age home, using the repetition of the Jesus Prayer in lieu of liturgic books and eating the food that the old- Complineage inhabitants didn't eat.:Quiet There were also a few nuns living at the old-age home at this time.-->==Timeline==*In 1958: , Elder Sophrony had many six people living near around him and , seeking the monastic life. A property at Realising that such a situation could not continue, he went to Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England was inspected.*to inspect a property; in the spring of 1959: , the new Community of St John the Baptist was formed at Tolleshunt Knights the same property, under Metropolitan [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh|Anthony]]'s omophorion. Monastery has The monastery, from its beginnings, had both monks and nuns, and numbers sixdue to Elder Sophrony being unable to oversee two separate communities.* 1965: The Monastery of St John the Baptist moved under the [[omophorion]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchatein 1959, becoming Patriarchal; later, the monastery would also be titled 'Stavropegic's omophorion. Later[[Image:Reposed_Elder_Sophrony.jpg|thumb|Repose of Elder Sophrony, [[July 11]], 1993]]===Repose of Elder Sophrony===The monastery had been informed that the only way that it could bury people on its property was to build an underground [[crypt]], which it proceeded to build, and to which Elder Sophrony said that he would not repose until the crypt was ready. Then, having been told of the Ecumenical Patriarchate expected completion date of [[July 12]], Elder Sophrony stated that he "would upgrade be ready". On the 11th, Elder Sophrony reposed; and on the 14th was his funeral and burial, attended by monastics from around the world. Mother Elizabeth, the eldest nun, reposed soon after on the 24th, according to Elder Sophrony's words that he would repose first, and she would repose soon after.[[Image:Monastery_yard.JPG|thumb|Monastery to StavropegicYard]] ==Cycle of services==''Saturday'': 7:00am - Hours and Divine Liturgy::5:00-9:00pm - Vigil ''Sunday'': 10:15am - Hours and Divine Liturgy::3:00pm - Vespers and and Paraklesis, followed by talks in Greek, English ''Daily'': 6.00-8:30am and 5:30-8:00pm - Repetition of the Jesus Prayer * 1973''Tuesday'': 7:00am - Hours and Divine Liturgy ''Feastdays'': Publication Vigil on the preceding evening; Hours and Divine Liturgy in the morning. ==Publishing==One of the motivating factors behind Elder Sophrony's move to France was the publishing of St. Silouan's books; when Elder Sophrony moved to England, the monastery became the publisher of these works. In 1973, a more complete translation of the life of St. Silouan, titled ''Monk of Mt . Athos'' (, was published; followed in 1975 by ''Wisdom of Mt. Athos'', a collation of the writings of St. Silouan. After this, Elder Sophrony began to publish books of his own, beginning with ''His Life is Mine'' in 1977 and then ''We Shall See Him As He Is'' in 1985. In 1987, the life [[Holy Synod]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate glorified St . Silouanthe Athonite. ===Books published by the Monastery===* ''Monk of Mt. Athos'', by [[Archimandrite]] Sophrony (Sakharov), 1973.* 1975: Publication of ''Wisdom of Mt . Athos'' , by Archimandrite Sophrony (the writings of St SilouanSakharov), 1975.* 1977: ''His Life is Mine'' published, by Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), 1977.* 1985: ''We Shall See Him As He Is'' published, by Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), 1985.* 1987''Service of Our Father among the Saints Nectarius: Bishop of Pentapolis'', by Gerasimos Mikragiannaniteis* ''Conversations with Children: Communicating our Faith'', by Sister Magdalen, 2001. ==Famous inhabitants==[[Image: Ecumenical Patriarchate glorifies St Kyrill.jpg|thumb|Archimandrite Kyrillos]]* Archimandrite [[Sophrony (Sakharov)]], the first Abbot, 1959-1993.* Archimandrite [[Symeon (Bruschweiler)]], spiritual son of Archimandrite Sophrony and co-founder of the Monastery in 1959. Translator of Elder Sophrony's works from Russian into French. Founder and president of the Association of Saint Silouan the Athonite. Died [[August 20]], 2009.* Archimandrite Kyrill, second abbot, 1993 Jul 11-2019.* Archimandrite [[Zacharias (Zacharou)]], disciple of Elder Sophrony for 27 years at [[St. Panteleimon's Monastery (Athos)|St. Panteleimon's Monastery]], [[Mount Athos|Mt. Athos]]. [http: At //www.orthodoxtapes.org/st_silouan.htm]* Archimandrite [[Nicholas (Sakharov)]], nephew of Elder Sophrony, author of ''I Love Therefore I Am''.* Archimandrite Raphael, disciple of Elder Sophrony since the beginnings of Essex Monastery, translator into Romanian language of Elder Sophrony' writings.* Sister Magdalen, noted speaker, author of ''Children in the Church Today'' & ''Conversations with Children: Communicating our Faith''. [http://www.christthesavioroca.org/SrMagdalen.html], [http://www.stgeorgecathedral.net/youth/index.html]* Sister Maria, mosaic iconographer. [http://www.mosaicmatters.co.uk/features/sistermaria.htm] ==Sources==*''I Love Therefore I Am''s repose, there were 25 other monastics at his monasteryby Hmk Nicholas V Sakharov.

==See alsoExternal links==*Lee Carson and Scott McDermott's Trip to England, [http://people.vanderbilt.edu/~scott.a.mcdermott/11.16.htm November 16, St. John the Baptist Monastery, Tolleshunt Knights, Essex].*[http://www.orthodox.clara.net/monastic_tale.htm A Taste of Monastic Life], report by Dwynwen East on a pilgrimage done on 17-20 September 2003.*CD recording of the [http://www.liturgica.com/cart/musicInfo.jsp?catNo=AB070&hostname=afr Service of St Silouan the Athonite], chanted in Greek by [Sophrony [Simonopetra Monastery (SakharovAthos)|Elder SophronySimonopetra Monastery]], Mt Athos; copyrighted by St John the first AbbotBaptist Monastery, Essex.