St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery standing in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, United States. It was established in the summer of 1995 in the name of

Saint Anthony the Great Anthony the Great ( grc-gre, Ἀντώνιος ''Antṓnios''; ar, القديس أنطونيوس الكبير; la, Antonius; ; c. 12 January 251 – 17 January 356), was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is d ...

. The closest town is Florence, Arizona. It is home for approximately 42 monks. It is open to both Orthodox and non-Orthodox visitors. Pilgrims can arrange to stay at the monastery in guest facilities, and other visitors are invited in daily from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. Guests are asked to wear “modest and loose-fitting” clothing along with shoes or sandals.

History

In the summer of 1995, Elder

Ephraim Ephraim (; he, ''ʾEp̄rayīm'', in pausa: ''ʾEp̄rāyīm'') was, according to the Book of Genesis, the second son of Joseph ben Jacob and Asenath. Asenath was an Ancient Egyptian woman whom Pharaoh gave to Joseph as wife, and the daughte ...

(a former abbot of Philotheou Monastery on

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...

with a history of restoring and repopulating previous monasteries) sent six monks of Athonite heritage to the Sonoran Desert of Arizona with aims to establish a new monastery in the name of

, the father of monasticism. The fathers began by building the main church, monastic living quarters, the dining hall, and some guest facilities. They also began a vegetable garden, a small vineyard, citrus orchards, and an olive grove amidst the desert landscape. These areas are now interconnected by an elaborate system of gardens, pathways, and gazebos with Spanish fountains. While the entire monastery is dedicated to

, within its grounds are chapels dedicated to

Seraphim of Sarov Seraphim of Sarov (russian: Серафим Саровский; – ), born Prókhor Isídorovich Moshnín (Mashnín) �ро́хор Иси́дорович Мошни́н (Машни́н) is one of the most renowned Russian saints and is venerate ...

, Demetrius of Thessaloniki, John the Baptist, George the Martyr,

Nicholas the Wonderworker Saint Nicholas of Myra, ; la, Sanctus Nicolaus (traditionally 15 March 270 – 6 December 343), also known as Nicholas of Bari, was an early Christian bishop of Greek descent from the maritime city of Myra in Asia Minor (; modern-day Demre ...

, and Panteleimon the Healer. The main church is dedicated to Saint Anthony and

Nectarios of Aegina Nectarios of Aegina ( el, Νεκτάριος Αιγίνης; 1 October 1846 – 8 November 1920), Metropolitan of Pentapolis and Wonderworker of Aegina, is one of the most renowned Greek saints, venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and officia ...

. In the summer of 2008, the building of a new chapel in the name of the Prophet Elias was completed on the hill east of the monastery. The chapel's first

liturgy Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. ''Liturgy'' can also be used to refer specifically to public worship by Christians. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and partic ...

was celebrated on the

feast day The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context d ...

of the chapel's eponymous prophet. The chapel can be seen from up to five miles away.

Monasticism

Lifestyle

The monks of St. Anthony's Monastery practice

Hesychasm Hesychasm (; Greek: Ησυχασμός) is a contemplative monastic tradition in the Eastern Orthodox Church in which stillness (''hēsychia'') is sought through uninterrupted Jesus prayer. While rooted in early Christian monasticism, it took it ...

(a mystical tradition of contemplative prayer) and adhere to the cenobitic monasticism. This includes a daily schedule of prayer and work under obedience to their abbot, whom assumes the role of their

spiritual father Confessor is a title used within Christianity in several ways. Confessor of the Faith Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith but not to the point of death.Divine Liturgy. Next is a light breakfast and a period of rest before they begin their work day, attend to their prayers, and complete various tasks until evening. Of these tasks include, but are not limited to: gardening, groundskeeping, construction, vine dressing, woodworking, publishing, icon writing, food preparation, and tending to the hospitality of any guests of the monastery. Their day finishes with evening vespers and dinner.

Demographics

Most of the resident brotherhood of monks are Greek and Greek-American by heritage. Many of the community members (approximately 50 to 80 on an average Sunday) are also Greek-American. There are no female initiates, though women-only centers do exist in other parts of the United States.

Gallery

Grounds

File:Cross and Steeple at Saint Anthony's Monastery (Florence, Arizona).jpg, File:Pathway at Saint Anthony's Monastery (Florence, Arizona).jpg, File:Gazebo at Saint Anthony's Monastery (Florence, Arizona).jpg, File:Path_of_Saint_Anthony's_Greek_Orthodox_Monastery.jpg, File:Steeple_and_Shrubbery_of_Saint_Anthony's_Greek_Orthodox_Monastery.jpg, File:Steeples_of_Saint_Anthony's_Greek_Orthodox_Monastery.jpg,

Art

File:Icon_of_Saint_Elias_in_the_Wilderness_from_St._Anthony's_Greek_Orthodox_Monastery.jpg, Icon of Prophet Elias File:Icon of an Orthodox Figure from St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.jpg, Icon of Saint Nectarios File:Icon of John the Baptist from St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.jpg, Icon of Saint John the Baptist File:Icon of an Orthodox Father from St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.jpg, Icon of Saint

Cosmas Cosmas or Kosmas is a Greek language, Greek name ( grc-gre, Κοσμᾶς), from Ancient Greek Κοσμᾶς (Kosmâs), associated with the noun κόσμος (kósmos), meaning "Cosmos, universe", and the verb κοσμέω (to order, govern, ado ...

File:Icon of a Saint from St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.jpg, Icon of Saint Eustace File:Detail of Icon of a Saint from St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery.jpg, Detail of Icon of Saint Eustace File:Stained-Glass_Christ_of_Saint_Anthony's_Greek_Orthodox_Monastery.jpg, Roof

fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...

of Christ Pantocrator inside the dome

References

{{reflist

External links

Official website
Christian monasteries in the United States Churches in Arizona Greek Orthodox monasteries Florence, Arizona