The Lord God blessed the Russian Diaspora to have many monasteries and monastic communities. Some of them moved in their entirety from Russia, for example, Lesna Convent; others became the heirs of the tradition of old Russian monasteries, especially of Pochaev and Valaam; the third kind were established entirely in the New World. The list below is not comprehensive: it does not include all the monastic communities of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, but only the main ones.

Holy Trinity Stavropighial Monastery in Jordanville

The monastery was established in 1930 by Archimandrite Panteleimon. The present Superior is Archimandrite Luke (Murianka). The main church was dedicated to the Holy Trinity; the lower church in honor of St. Job of Pochaev; the cemetery church in honor of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Mother of God, and the church on the lake in honor of the Holy New Martyrs of Russia and of St. John of Rylsk. The Monastery includes a publishing house of St. Job of Pochaev, an icon-painting studio, the Holy Trinity Seminary, a library, a Russian cemetery and a historical museum.

The main holy object of the Monastery is the copy of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. In the cemetery are buried Metropolitans Anastassy and Philaret of blessed memory, Archbishops Tikhon (Troitsky), Appolinarii, Averkii (Taushev), Anthony (Medvedev), Hegumen Filimon of Valaam, the icon-painter Archimandrite Kyprian and the murdered protector of the Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, brother Joseph.

HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY
P.O. Box 36
Jordanville, NY 13361-0036, USA
Tel: (315) 858-0940; fax: (315) 858-0505

Lesna Convent of the Most-Holy Mother of God
Provemont, France

The Convent was established in 1885 at the behest of Archbishop Leontii of Warsaw. The first abbess came to Lesna from Moscow along with five nuns. In 1889 the monastic community was reorganized into a general monastery and had town churches in St. Petersburg, Kholma, Warsaw and Yalta. The nuns taught children and the Convent became a center of Orthodoxy outside of Russia. The Royal Family visited the Convent twice. St. Amvrosii of Optina and St. John of Kronstadt were supporters of the Convent. In 1915, the Convent was evacuated into the depths of Russia—all 500 nunsand over 600 others. In 1917, at the invitation of then-Bishop Anastassy (Gribanovsky), the Convent moved to the Kishinev Diocese, and then to Yugoslavia, to Khopovo. From Khopovo, in 1950, the nuns of the Convent left for France (first to Fourquet, then to Provemont), where they remain to this day. In France, the Convent was frequently visited by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker. The main holy object of the convent is the Lesna Icon of the Mother of God. There also are the relics of St. Afanasii of Brest. The nuns bear a multitude of obediences: singing, cleaning, gardening, candle-making, icon-painting, a bookstore, and also warmly greet many visiting pilgrims.

COUVENT DE LESNA
1, rue du Moulin
Provemont, 27150 Etrepagny, FRANCE
Tel: 33 (2) 32 55 82 66; fax: 33 (2) 32 27 31 75

Monastery of St. Job of Pochaev, Munich, Germany

The origins of this monastery arose from the Pochaev Lavra. In 1923, the archimandrite of the Pochaev Lavra Vitaly (Maximenko) exported the historical typography of the Lavra to the Carpathian Mountins. There the monastery of St. Job, from 1924 until 1944, furnished all of the Russian Diaspora with service books and spiritual literature. When in 1944, Soviet forces neared the Carpathian monastery, a large portion of the monks left for Germany, then to Switzerland, and finally to Jordanville. Those monks who did not depart for America, along with new novices and monks, gathered around Archimandrite Job in Germany, near Munich. The monastery went through several phases in connection with the decline of monastic life. In 1981, accompanied by the move to the monastery of the ruling bishop of the German Diocese, it has been renewed.

The head of the monastery is Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany. The monks manage a variety of obediences: church singing, cleaning, candle-making and publishing.

KLOSTER DES HL. HIOB
Hofbauernstr. 26
81247 Muenchen, GERMANY
Tel: 49 (89) 834 89 59; fax: 49 (89) 88 67 77

Russian Convent of Ascension on Mount of Olives (Eleon)

The plot of land upon which our convent is located was acquired by archimandrite Anthony (Kapoustin) at the end of the 19th c. In 1906 the Convent was recognized by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the number of nuns there quickly grew. During the First World War, Jerusalem was declared a war zone and the clergy was expelled. Only in 1919 did the clergy return and the church unsealed. All the care over the preservation of the convent was assumed by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. At the convent, besides the Church of the Ascension, are a chapel of St. John the Forerunner and the trapeza church in honor of St. Philaret the Merciful.

The head of the Convent is Abbess Varvara. The nuns assume many obediences: church singing, cleaning, embroidery in gold and greeting pilgrims.

Russian Convent of Ascension on Mount of Olives (Eleon)
P.O. Box 19229
Jerusalem 91191, ISRAEL
Tel: 972 (2) 628-43-73; Fax: 972 (2) 628-23-67

eleon.monastery@outlook.com

eleonmonastery.com

Gethsemane Convent, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene was built by Emperor Alexander III in 1888 in memory of his mother. Around this church in Gethsemane Garden in 1934, with the blessing of Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky), a small monastic community of nuns formed. Some of the nuns established a school in Bethany for Arab girls. Gradually it became possible to organize daily services in Gethsemane and to strengthen monastic life there. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene contains the relics of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna the New Martyr and of St. Varvara.

The head of the Convent is Abbess Elizabeth. The nuns have many obediences:
singing, cleaning, tending to children and greeting visitors.

ST. MARY MAGDALENE CONVENT
P.O. Box 19238
Jerusalem 91191, ISRAEL
Tel: 972 (2) 628-43-71; fax: 972 (2) 628-63-81

russgefsimania.com

Wadi Fara: the Skete of St. Chariton

The Lavra of St. Chariton was the first in the Holy Land. The founder of the monastery in the beginning of the IV c. was St. Chariton the Witness. Now on the place of the lavra is a small men's skete with a cave church. The Skete is under the auspices of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.

THE RUSSIAN ECCLESIASTICAL MISSION IN JERUSALEM
P.O. Box 20164
Jerusalem 91200, ISRAEL
Tel: 972 (2) 992-88-95

Russian Orthodox Convent of Our Lady of Kazan "Novoye Shamardino," Australia

The Convent was founded in 1956. With the arrival from China of an enormous number of refugees, including those in monastic orders, a piece of land was purchased and a monastic building and church were built upon it. Mostly elderly nuns settled there. It seemed that the Convent would die out, but in 1980 a stream of youn novices began to join. In 1983 a new church was built in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, along with housing. An old-age home was build alongside the Convent with a Russian library.

Nuns perform their obedience by singing, in the garden and in tending to the elderly.

OUR LADY OF KAZAN CONVENT
32 Smith Road
Kentlyn, N.S.W. 2560, AUSTRALIA
Tel: 61 (2) 4625-7054

Monastery of St. Edward the Martyr, England

In 1979, Archimandrite Alexei, an Englishman by birth, received a blessing from the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to receive the relics of the martyred King Edward and to erect a proper home for them. King Edward, in many ways similar to SS Boris and Gleb the Martyrs, was cruelly martyred in the Xth c. In 1982, a small brotherhood settled at a cemetery in the city of Brookwood, and gradually turned the old Anglican church into an Orthodox one. This church now contains the relics of St. Edward. The Brotherhood conducts services in English, Greek and Church Slavonic and primarily serves the needs of those newly converted to Orthodoxy among the English, and also publishes a journal, The Shepherd.

ST. EDWARDS BROTHERHOOD
St. Cyprian's Avenue
Brookwood, Woking, Surrey GU24 OBL, ENGLAND
Tel: 44 (1483) 487 763; e-mail: theshepherd@mac.com

Stavropighial Convent of the Dormition, "Novo Diveevo"

The Convent is located some 60 km from New York City. The founder and builder of this monastery was Protopresbyter Andrian Rimarenko (starets Nektarii of Optina died under his epitrachelion). In 1949, with the arrival in America of a multitude of refugees, Fr. Adrian decided that it was necessary to have a spiritual center. A former Roman Catholic monastery was built and a Russian convent was founded. Soon after an Orthodox church was built in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The largest Russian Orthodox cemetery is located at the site along with a home for the aged. The convent has many sacred things: a full-length portrait of St. Seraphim of Sarov painted during his lifetime, a cross from the Ipatiev House and the cell icon of the Mother of God that belonged to St. Amvrosii of Optina.

The head of the Convent is Abbess Irina.

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CONVENT "NOVO DIVEEVO"
100 Smith Road
Nanuet, NY 10954, U.S.A.
Tel: (845) 356-0425; fax: (845) 356-8250

New Kursk-Root Icon Hermitage, Mahopac, NY

In 1949, some 60 km from New York city a plot of land was purchased for the establishment of a church and summer residence for the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. It was given the name iNew Kursk-Root Hermitage,i in honor of the old Kursk-Root hermitage destroyed by the bolsheviks, where the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon was found. A small monastic community grew at the site, which held several Councils. At the present time only a priest and some workers live there.

RUSSIAN ORTHODOX MONASTERY
1050 Route 6
Mahopac, NY 10541, U.S.A.
Tel: (914) 628-4975

Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God, Bluffton, Canada

At first, in 1953, the Convent was a skete of the Convent of Our Lady of Vladimir in San Francisco. It is located in the far north of the Province of Alberta. Subsequently, due to the decline of monasticism in the Vladimir Convent, the property was handed over to the Diocesan Administration of the Canadian Diocese, and in 1980 a monastic community, now independent, was formed. The Convent has a winter and summer church and a cemetery. There has been a recent influx of young novices.

The head of the Convent is Abbess Amvrosia.

HOLY VIRGIN PROTECTION CONVENT
RR #2
Bluffton, AB T0C 0M0, CANADA
Tel: (403) 843-6401

Annunciation Convent in London, England

The Convent was established in 1954 with the blessing of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker for spiritual education. The Convent had its origins in the Holy Land. The head of the Convent with a group of nuns was forced to undergo a barrage of bullets while fleeing their monastery near Jerusalem during the Arab-Israeli war of 1948. The nuns suffered great need, illness and misfortune in their exile for 6 years, until, following 2 years of warm hospitality at Lesna Convent in France, Divine Providence brought them to England.

HOLY ANNUNCIATION CONVENT
26 Brondesbury Park
London NW6 7DL, ENGLAND
Tel: 44 (181) 459 02 63

Transfiguration of the Savior Skete, Bombala, Australia

This small monastic community is located in the mountains of Australia. The Skete was founded with the blessing of Archbishop Paul (Pavlov) in 1982. One of the main goals of the Skete is the spiritual nourishment of pilgrims. Not far from the Transfiguration Skete the Presentation Convent was established. The head of the Convent is Abbess Anna.

The head of the Transfiguration Skete is Archimandrite Aleksei.

HOLY TRANSFIGURATION MONASTERY
Richardson's Road
Bombala, N.S.W. 2632, AUSTRALIA
Tel: 61 (2) 6458 3009

The Hermitage of the Holy Cross, West Virginia, USA

The Hermitage of the Holy Cross Monastery was founded in September 1986 by Hieromonk Kallistos (†1992) in House Springs, Missouri. The Hermitage remained in the Missouri area for the next 14 years. During this time the monastery expanded and grew. In 1999 the Hermitage doubled in size and all available rooms for the monastics were filled.

An offer of land was made to the Hermitage and with the blessings of the monastery's Abbot, the ever-memorable Metropolitan (then Archbishop) Laurus of Holy Trinity Monastery, and the monastery's spiritual father, Igumen (now Bishop) George, the brotherhood decided to move the monastery to West Virginia. The move was accomplished on May 25, 2000.

The Hermitage of the Holy Cross is an English speaking monastery under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in the Diocese of Eastern America and New York. The abbot of the monastery is Bishop George of Mayfield.

The monks support themselves by manufacturing hand made incense in the ancient Athonite tradition as well as through icons, homemade soap, and selling other liturgical items and products.

The monk's day at the Hermitage begins with prayer followed by the monk's private prayer rule and work in obedience.

The Hermitage brotherhood currently numbers 24 monks and candidates. Building projects for new monastic cells, workshops, offices and a new church temple are in the works to accommodate a growing monastic community and an increasing number of pilgrims.

Hermitage of the Holy Cross
505 Holy Cross Rd.
Wayne, WV 25570
Phone - 304-849-2072
Fax - 304- 849-2016
www.holycross-hermitage.com

Convent of St. Elizabeth, near Jordanville

The Convent was established in the 1980s and attempts to follow traditional monastic life. The nuns sew vestments, paint icons, and prepare candles and incense.

The head of the Convent is Mother Elizabeth.

St. Elizabeth Skete
1520 State Rte 167
Mohawk, NY 13407, U.S.A.
Tel: (315) 858-2208

saintelizabethskete.org

All-Merciful Saviour Monastery

Vashon Island, WA
English-speaking brotherhood. The Abbot is Igumen Tryphon.

All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
P.O. Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420, USA

Tel: (206) 463-5918
Website: http://www.vashonmonks.com/

 

CONVENT OF NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY

Wayne, WV
CONVENT OF NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY
P.O. Box 698
Wayne, WV 25570-0698, USA