The Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the Midwest’s only monastery was recently revived after several years of lying dormant.
In a recent interview with the diocesan Department of Communications, Abbess Alexandra of Holy Resurrection Monastery in Niangua, Missouri, offers an introduction to the newly reestablished monastery and information for how to support and stay up to date with the holy habitation.
As Mother Alexandra recalls, the monastery was first established in 1998, but in 2017, the remaining two monastics decided to move to another monastery. Then His Eminence Archbishop Paul of Chicago and the Midwest gave his blessing for the reestablishment of the monastery on November 1 last year.
Having our Risen Lord as patron is a firm foundation to revitalize the monastic witness in our diocese,” the abbess reflects.
Having returned from missionary work in Guatemala last year, Mother Alexandra visited the site of the dormant monastery and “was struck by the beauty of the chapel and the desire of the faithful to have a monastery and monastics in their midst.”
“God’s plans are amazing, and when these are revealed to us, we must respond with our whole heart,” she says.
In addition to the monastery’s primary work of prayer, the abbess describes its main ministries as “retreats and spiritual food.” The faithful are welcome to come and pray and help out as they are able, and the monastery is hoping to soon provide overnight accommodations for guests. The monastery also makes candles for use in church.
The sisterhood has been blessed with significant monetary and property donations, including a mortgage payoff and a vehicle, but there is still much work to be done, including restoring and furnishing the monastic cells and guest rooms.
To learn more about the monastery and how to offer a helping hand or donations, or order candles and view the first issue of the monastery’s new tri-annual journal, visit its newly-launched website at holyresurrectionmonastery.org.