Holy Theophany Monastery

In early November Mothers Anastasia and Irene went to Los Angeles, CA. for the westernmost Encounter-2012 sponsored by the Eastern Catholic Bishops.  A 3-day delight of talks, meals, re-acquaintings and wonderful events, the Encounter emphasized lay-leadership and Church growth.

While the entire Catholic Church is a vast aggregation of 23 churches (often called ‘rites’) the Eastern Churches are very well diversified themselves.  One evening’s entertainment was performed by Syro-Malabar Catholics from India, the following evening’s concert was by an Armenian Catholic choir.  There were representatives from the Ukranian jurisdiction, the Ruthenian, Melkite, Coptic, Syro-Malabar, Romanian, Albanian, and Russian jurisdictions.

Unfortunately there is only one photograph available of us there.  See the Photo Album.

 

 

In October, Mother Anastasia and Sister Seraphina attended the Eparchial Assembly and anniversary celebrations in Canton, OH.  The Diocese itself is 25 years old and the Romanian Cathedral has accrued 100 years.  Like all family gatherings, long-standing friendships were renewed and new acquaintances made amid much talk and activity and  accompanied by an abundance of food and not a little dancing.  When one is having as much fun as we were, it is difficult to keep ones mind on taking photographs and collecting information to write about.

All was not frivolity however, as the delegates to the assembly decided to focus on discipleship for the next year in an effort to better serve our people.

For more photos from the Eparchial Assembly.

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Summer of 2012, while hot and dry for this area, was a crack-up of fun and amazement as our chickens began laying a little more regularly (but not always in the nest boxes!) and got accustomed to running around the property cackling and scratching and terrorizing both the cat and the dog.  We have learned more than we thought we needed about how chickens behave and strut their cuteness.

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And a hit it was!  Seven people came, prayed, painted, and generally seemed to enjoy the week at Holy Theophany under the guidance of iconographer Rev. Fr. Damian:   Melissa Morrow of Post, TX;  Teresa Park of Goodyear, AZ;  Julie Barrett-Ziegler of Olympia, WA;  Teresa Danovich of Eugene, OR;  Marguerite Safford of Shelton, WA;  Ellen Spring of Acme, WA and Sister Seraphina of Holy Theophany Monastery.  Photographs of the workshop and the finished icons are here.

 

The second iconography workshop and retreat was a great success as you can see by the beautiful icons that where written!

 

 

Eighteen inches of snow not-withstanding,  later January and early February found the monastery being treated for heavy and harmful mold infestation, followed by the installation of a new roof.   (See Photo Album).

Mid January Sister Seraphina and Mother Anastasia attended the first annual  meeting on Eastern Catholic religious vocations in Washington D.C.  The meeting was sponsored by the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Philadelphia for the Ukranian Catholic Church.  The trip was memorable and the affair was well-attended, albeit by a small portion of the religious communities  of the Eastern Church.  (See Photo Album also)

 

• Jessica posted on July 13, 2012
  Congratulations, Sr Seraphina from Steve and Jessica in Austin!

The monastery has been blessed with three bells, two dated 1811 from Mexico and one cast for the United States’ bicentennial in 1976.  A ‘tower’ for them was placed in the lavender/herb bed next to the chapel.  They were blessed on December 11,  2011, and we are quietly practicing ringing them.

Sonja Weber, from Hamburg, Germany originally and more recently from Austin, Texas, was vested as a rasophore at Great Vespers for the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple.   Her name in religion is Sister Seraphina.  Please see Photos tab for some shots of the ceremony.

 

 

The Iconography Workshop was a wondrous success!  We had four students who totally immersed themselves in pigment and egg yolk for a week and produced incredible icons of an angel’s head – Michael or Gabriel, depending on which direction it is looking.

Fr. Damien has consented to having another next year, (and each year after that, we hope) so stay alert for a date.  Sometime around the beginning of the civil year we ought to be able to announce it.

Please see the Photo Albums for more pictures here: Iconography Workshop July, 2011

This news bit comes much too late for most people to take advantage of it, but it is important to let you know what we are up to.  Beginning on March 26,  Rev. Fr. Lawrence gave the first lecture of our Fifth Annual Lenten Lecture Series.  The topic this year is Revelation, and Father spoke on Tradition as the bearer of revelation in the Eastern Church.

The second speaker, Mother Anastasia, spoke on Sacred Scripture as revelation itself, addressing particularly the manifestations of both the trinity and the unity of God.

The third speaker, Mother Irene,  spoke on April 9 on God revealing Himself to us.  Mother used the Beatitudes, supported by Psalms to make her points.

These lectures series have, through the years, been attended by people of differing beliefs.  While most are either Eastern Catholics, Orthodox or Roman Catholics, the lectures have attracted a number of Protestants as well.    We apologize for the late start and the shortened series this year – usually we have four Saturdays in the Great Fast and four speakers.

Look for a notice next year, earlier certainly, with a full slate of speakers on yet another scintillating topic.

Holy Theophany Monastery has acquired a permanent chaplain!  On March 5,  Rt.  Rev. Father Lawrence Gosselin (Maj.  USAF ret.) arrived to begin his retirement from parish ministry.  We are delighted to have a priest to serve the Offices and Divine Liturgies.

Saturday and Sundays:  Orthros is at 7:00 am  with Divine Liturgy following immediately on Saturdays and at 10 am on Sundays.   All are welcome.   After the Sunday Divine Liturgy, there is a pot luck brunch in the trapeza (dining room) of the Monastery.  Please let us know if you will attend so we can round up more chairs.

Please come to Church!