Changes

type=Male Stavropegic Double Monastery|

superior=Elder KyrillosArchimandrite Petros|size=~25 24 monastics|

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. 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[[Image:Saints_mosaic.JPG|thumb|Saints Mosaic]]

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 . [[Nikodemos Nicodemus of the AthoniteHoly Mountain|NikodemosNicodemus]] and St . [[Paisios Paisius Velichkovsky]].

==TimelineHistory==* 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 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, due to Elder Sophrony's inability 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'' (the life of St Silouan).* , was published; followed in 1975: Publication of by ''Wisdom of Mt . Athos'' (, a collation of the writings of St . Silouan).* 1977: After this, Elder Sophrony began to publish books of his own, beginning with ''His Life is Mine'' published.* 1985: in 1977 and then ''We Shall See Him As He Is'' publishedin 1985.* In 1987: , the [[Holy Synod]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate glorifies glorified St . Silouan the Athonite. ===Books published by the Monastery===* 1993 Jul 11: At Elder Sophrony's repose'Monk of Mt. Athos'', there were 25 other monastics at his monastery. Elder by [[Archimandrite]] Sophrony had previously stated that he would not repose until the crypt was ready for his burial(Sakharov), 1973.* 1993 Jul 12: Crypt built''Wisdom of Mt. Elder Athos'', by Archimandrite Sophrony(Sakharov), having been told that it would be ready for its first burial on the 12th, stated that he "would be ready"1975.* 1993 Jul 14: Funeral and burial of Elder ''His Life is Mine'', by Archimandrite Sophrony(Sakharov), 1977.* 1993 Jul 24: Mother Elizabeth''We Shall See Him As He Is'', the eldest nunby Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), reposed1985. Elder Sophrony had previously said that he would repose* ''Service of Our Father among the Saints Nectarius: Bishop of Pentapolis'', and that sheby Gerasimos Mikragiannaniteis* ''Conversations with Children: Communicating our Faith'', tooby Sister Magdalen, would repose soon after2001.

[[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]