Changes

Jump to: navigation, search
m
no edit summary
name=Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist|
jurisdiction=[[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]]|
type=Male Stavropegic Double Monastery|
founded=1959|
superior=Elder KyrillosArchimandrite Petros|size=~25 24 monastics|
hq=Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England|
language=ManyEnglish, with French & Greek|
music=[[Russian Chant]]|
calendar=[[Revised Julian Calendar|Revised Julian]]|
feasts=[[January 7|St John the Baptist]]|
website=none advertised
}}[[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. The community consists of men and women living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members[[Image:Saints_mosaic.JPG|thumb|Saints Mosaic]]
The community consists of men and women living the monastic tradition of a Christ-centered prayer life for the monastic members. Currently, the majority of the community are nuns (~15-20), with a smaller number of monks. Since 2019, the abbot of the Monastery is Archimandrite Petros (Vryzas).
<!--The community conducts (numerous retreats) -->
<!--To support the community the women run the ...-->
==Daily life==
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 [[Divine Liturgy]] three or four times per week, found inspiration in Elder Sophrony's experience in the Athonite desert, and precedent in Athonite skete practise, St . [[Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain|Nicodemus]] and St Paisios . [[Paisius Velichkovsky]]. Also, another distinctive part of this monastery is that it is a double monastery; that is, the community has both [[monks]] and [[nuns]]. This is rare, but is not unheard of, in Orthodox monasticism. ==History==The Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist had its beginnings largely in the person of Elder Sophrony. After his departure from [[Mount Athos|Mt. Athos]] and his subsequent move to Paris, he was to live in a Russian old-age home, assisting the [[priest]]. Soon, two men would seek out Elder Sophrony, desiring the monastic life. 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-age inhabitants didn't eat. There were also a few nuns living at the old-age home at this time. In 1958, Elder Sophrony had six people living around him, seeking the monastic life. Realising that such a situation could not continue, he went to Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England to inspect a property; in the spring of 1959, the new Community of St John the Baptist was formed at the same property, under Metropolitan [[Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh|Anthony]]'s omophorion. The monastery, from its beginnings, had both monks and nuns, due to Elder Sophrony being unable to oversee two separate communities. The Monastery of St John the Baptist moved under the [[omophorion]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1959, becoming Patriarchal; later, the monastery would also be titled 'Stavropegic'.[[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 expected completion date of [[July 12]], Elder Sophrony stated that he "would 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 Yard]] ==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 ''Tuesday'': 7:00am - Hours and Divine Liturgy ''Feastdays'': Vigil on the preceding evening; Hours and Divine Liturgy in the morning.
Also==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, another distinctive part the monastery became the publisher of this monastery is that it is these works. In 1973, a double monasterymore complete translation of the life of St. Silouan, titled ''Monk of Mt. Athos'', was published; that itfollowed in 1975 by ''Wisdom of Mt. Athos'', a collation of the writings of St. Silouan. After this, it has both [[monks]] 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 [[nunsHoly Synod]]of the Ecumenical Patriarchate glorified St. This is rare, but is not unheard of, in Orthodox monasticismSilouan the Athonite.
==Timeline==* 1958: Elder Sophrony had six people living near him and seeking the monastic life. A property at Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon, Essex, England was inspected.* 1959: Community of St John Books published by the Baptist formed at Tolleshunt Knights under Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh. Monastery has both monks and nuns, due to Elder Sophrony's inability to oversee two separate communities.===* 1965: Monastery of St John the Baptist moved under the Ecumenical Patriarchate's omophorion. Later, the Ecumenical Patriarchate would upgrade the Monastery to Stavropegic.* 1973: Publication of a more complete translation of ''Monk of Mt . Athos'' , by [[Archimandrite]] Sophrony (the life of St SilouanSakharov), 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.* 1987: Ecumenical Patriarchate glorifies St Silouan the Athonite.* 1993 Jul 11: At Elder , by Archimandrite Sophrony's repose(Sakharov), there were 25 other monastics at his monastery. Elder Sophrony had previously stated that he would not repose until the crypt was ready for his burial1985.* 1993 Jul 12: Crypt built. Elder Sophrony, having been told that it would be ready for its first burial on ''Service of Our Father among the 12th, stated that he "would be ready".* 1993 Jul 14Saints Nectarius: Funeral and burial Bishop of Elder Sophrony.Pentapolis'', by Gerasimos Mikragiannaniteis* 1993 Jul 24''Conversations with Children: Mother Elizabeth, the eldest nun, reposed. Elder Sophrony had previously said that he would repose, and that sheCommunicating our Faith'', tooby Sister Magdalen, would repose soon after2001.
==Famous inhabitants==
[[Image:Kyrill.jpg|thumb|Archimandrite Kyrillos]]*Archimandrite [[Sophrony (Sakharov)|Elder Sophrony]], the first Abbot, 1959-1993.*Archimandrite Kyrillos[[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. Died [[August 20]], 2009.* Archimandrite Kyrill, second abbot, 1993-present2019.*Archimandrite [[Zacharias (Zacharou)|Zacharias]], disciple of Elder Sophrony for 27 years at [[St. Panteleimon's Monastery (Athos)|St. Panteleimon's Monastery]], [[Mount Athos|Mt. Athos]]. [http://www.orthodoxtapes.org/st_silouan.htm]*Archimandrite [[Nicholas (Sakharov)|Nicholas V 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==
[[Category:British Monasteries]]
[[Category:Monasteries]]
[[ro:Mănăstirea Stavropighie Patriarhală a Sf. Ioan Botezătorul (Maldon, Essex)]]
324
edits

Navigation menu